counterintuitive

adjective

coun·​ter·​in·​tu·​i·​tive ˌkau̇n-tər-in-ˈtü-ə-tiv How to pronounce counterintuitive (audio)
-ˈtyü-
: contrary to what one would intuitively expect
As counterintuitive as it may seem, the universe has no center, and it has no boundary.Jim Bell
counterintuitively adverb

Examples of counterintuitive in a Sentence

It may seem counterintuitive, but we do burn calories when we are sleeping.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
He is considered to be an original disruptor in the wine world thanks to his passion for creating innovative wines that sometimes seem counterintuitive to the older traditions held by many French winemakers. Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2025 Bringing in someone like Bichette would limit his playing time and be counterintuitive to their approach. Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025 The polar vortex is making a return to the forecast, but the counterintuitive weather feature is nothing to fear. Doyle Rice, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025 Trading McBride to open up a roster spot for Shamet and Brogdon seems counterintuitive to that objective. James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for counterintuitive

Word History

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of counterintuitive was in 1955

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Counterintuitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterintuitive. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on counterintuitive

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!