1
as in paradoxes
someone or something with qualities or features that seem to conflict with one another
a loving father as well as a ruthless killer, the gangster is a living contradiction
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2
as in denials
a refusal to confirm the truth of a statement
the actress's contradiction of the marriage rumor caused quite a stir
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Recent Examples of contradictions
Tracing Bundy’s reign of terror over the years, Rule grapples with the contradictions of the killer.
—
Rebecca Hannigan, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
But Semprevivo, pointing out several contradictions or inaccuracies on things like dates, said Powell had ample opportunity to correct the deposition record and failed to do so.
—Luke Cyphers, Sportico.com, 9 Jan. 2026
And on Desaceleradas, Beatriz chooses not to explain away cumbia rebajada’s contradictions, but to celebrate its fundamental mystery.
—Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 7 Jan. 2026
This confusion lay in the speech’s weaving, wending contradictions, and its shifts between tones, something Foster purposefully aimed for in telling the story of her life from child stardom to adult disaffection.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 7 Jan. 2026
Between 22 players pursuing a ball lies a multibillion-dollar industry shaped by powerful narratives of identity and social contradictions.
—Alicia G Kerber Palma, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
Are the contradictions and chaos of anyone’s life resolvable?
—Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 6 Jan. 2026
Trump’s comments about Venezuelan immigrants in the United States highlight the contradictions of how his administration has largely targeted Venezuelan immigrants while also calling the country a narcostate run by a dictator.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2026
One skipped school day exposes the fractures of a family grieving in silence and the contradictions of love that shape her girlhood.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2025
Rebecca Hannigan, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
But Semprevivo, pointing out several contradictions or inaccuracies on things like dates, said Powell had ample opportunity to correct the deposition record and failed to do so.
—Luke Cyphers, Sportico.com, 9 Jan. 2026
And on Desaceleradas, Beatriz chooses not to explain away cumbia rebajada’s contradictions, but to celebrate its fundamental mystery.
—Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 7 Jan. 2026
This confusion lay in the speech’s weaving, wending contradictions, and its shifts between tones, something Foster purposefully aimed for in telling the story of her life from child stardom to adult disaffection.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 7 Jan. 2026
Between 22 players pursuing a ball lies a multibillion-dollar industry shaped by powerful narratives of identity and social contradictions.
—Alicia G Kerber Palma, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
Are the contradictions and chaos of anyone’s life resolvable?
—Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 6 Jan. 2026
Trump’s comments about Venezuelan immigrants in the United States highlight the contradictions of how his administration has largely targeted Venezuelan immigrants while also calling the country a narcostate run by a dictator.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2026
One skipped school day exposes the fractures of a family grieving in silence and the contradictions of love that shape her girlhood.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contradictions
Noun
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Thin lids of ice could have sheltered lakes on ancient Mars and kept surface water liquid even as the Red Planet's climate became freezing, according to new research that could solve one of the greater paradoxes of Martian history.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
14 Jan. 2026
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Those paradoxes of her personality?—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Instead of blanket denials, applications will now be reviewed individually, provided companies meet a series of strict conditions.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Jan. 2026
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The investigation focuses on potential violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law and follows growing complaints from residents about delays, underpayments, and denials of legitimate wildfire claims.—
Pat Maio,
Daily News,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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At least seven grand jury rejections have occurred across five different cases since the administration’s crime and security surge crackdown began in August.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
1 Jan. 2026
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Extraordinary rejections Granted, all these grand juries were in liberal jurisdictions, but their rejections of prosecutors’ claims are still striking, since indictments are usually notoriously easy to secure.—
Michelle Goldberg,
Mercury News,
30 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contradictions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contradictions. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
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