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Contradictory: meaning, definitions and examples

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contradictory

 

[ ˌkɒntrəˈdɪktəri ]

Adjective / Noun
Context #1 | Adjective

opposite statements or ideas

Containing or showing a contradiction. Inconsistent or having conflicting qualities. Expressing the opposite of what one really means, especially in order to deceive.

Synonyms

conflicting, inconsistent, opposing

Examples of usage

  • He made a contradictory statement by saying he was both happy and sad at the same time.
  • Her actions were contradictory to her words, causing confusion among her colleagues.
  • The witness gave contradictory testimonies during the trial.
Context #2 | Noun

opposite ideas or aspects

A combination of statements, ideas, or features which are opposed to one another. A proposition that is inconsistent with itself.

Synonyms

conflict, inconsistency, opposition

Examples of usage

  • There was a contradictory between what she said and what she did.
  • The film explores the contradictions between tradition and modernity.
  • The contradictory in his argument weakened his position.

Translations

Translations of the word "contradictory" in other languages:

🇵🇹 contraditório

🇮🇳 विरोधाभासी

🇩🇪 widersprüchlich

🇮🇩 bertentangan

🇺🇦 суперечливий

🇵🇱 sprzeczny

🇯🇵 矛盾した

🇫🇷 contradictoire

🇪🇸 contradictorio

🇹🇷 çelişkili

🇰🇷 모순된

🇸🇦 متناقض

🇨🇿 rozporuplný

🇸🇰 rozporuplný

🇨🇳 矛盾的

🇸🇮 protislovno

🇮🇸 mótsagnakennt

🇰🇿 қайшы

🇬🇪 საწინააღმდეგო

🇦🇿 ziddiyyətli

🇲🇽 contradictorio

Word origin

The word 'contradictory' originated from the Latin word 'contradictorius', which means 'speaking against'. It first appeared in the English language in the 17th century. The concept of contradiction has been a fundamental part of philosophical and logical discourse throughout history, with notable contributions from thinkers such as Aristotle, Hegel, and Russell. The study of contradictions plays a significant role in various fields, including mathematics, philosophy, and linguistics.

See also: contradiction, contradictions, contradictorily.

Word Frequency Rank

At #7,184 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.