contradictory

contradictory — adjective

1. When facts, statements, or pieces of advice are contradictory, they express oppo

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

When facts, statements, or pieces of advice are contradictory, they express opposite ideas, so believing one means rejecting the other.

Example

The two witnesses gave contradictory accounts of what happened at the bank.

contradictory accounts — two versions of the same event that disagree

Shanti's doctor offered advice that seemed contradictory to her colleague's opinion.

contradictory to [noun] — common preposition pattern

Common collocations
  • contradictory evidence
  • contradictory statements
  • contradictory advice
  • contradictory accounts
  • contradictory information
  • contradictory results
Synonyms
  • conflicting

    Broader term covering schedules, interests, or emotions; 'conflicting needs' feels natural, while 'contradictory needs' is less common.

  • inconsistent

    Focuses on internal lack of agreement within a single system or set of ideas, not necessarily direct opposition.

  • incompatible

    Suggests two things cannot exist or work together at all, often used for systems, personalities, or software.

Antonyms
  • consistent

    Agreeing with each other without conflict; the opposite of internally contradictory.

  • compatible

    Able to exist or work together harmoniously.

Grammar Patterns

contradictory + noun (e.g., contradictory statements)

be/seem/appear + contradictory

contradictory to + noun

Common Mistakes

Her opinion was contradictory because many people disagreed with it.
Her opinion was controversial because many people disagreed with it.
'contradictory' describes two things that oppose each other, not a single thing that many people dispute.
North and south are contradictory directions.
North and south are opposite directions.
'opposite' is the natural word for physical or spatial relationships; 'contradictory' is used for ideas, statements, or evidence.

2. Used in formal logic to describe a pair of statements where one is true and the

2.adjectiveC1
Definition

Used in formal logic to describe a pair of statements where one is true and the other false, with no middle possibility between them.

Example

In the philosophy exam, Hui had to identify pairs of contradictory statements using truth tables.

contradictory statements — technical term in logic

The terms 'all humans are mortal' and 'some humans are not mortal' form a contradictory pair in logic.

Common collocations
  • contradictory propositions
  • contradictory terms
  • contradictory pair
  • contradictory statements (in logic)
Synonyms
  • opposite

    General term for things that are as different as possible; lacks the formal logical precision of 'contradictory'.

  • negated

    Refers specifically to a proposition that has been denied; more technical and narrower in scope.

Grammar Patterns

contradictory + noun (e.g., contradictory propositions)

be + contradictory

Usage Note

This sense is almost exclusively used in logic or philosophy. Distinguish from sense 1 (CONFLICTING), which applies to everyday statements and situations where facts or opinions disagree.

Common Mistakes

The weather forecast was contradictory because it said it would rain and be sunny.
The weather forecast was contradictory
it said it would rain but also promised sunshine.' — The corrected version shows two specific opposing claims within the same forecast.

contradictory — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe a lack of agreement, but they differ in scope and tone. Conflicting is the broadest term — it applies to schedules, interests, accounts, or emotions (e.g., 'conflicting loyalties') without necessarily implying absolute opposition. Inconsistent focuses on internal lack of coherence within a single person, system, or set of ideas ('inconsistent arguments'), often suggesting a flaw in reasoning. Incompatible suggests a fundamental impossibility for two things to coexist or work together ('incompatible software' or 'incompatible personalities'). Contradictory is the strongest term, implying direct opposition where both cannot be true at the same time ('contradictory evidence'). Where conflicting allows for tension without absolutes, contradictory demands a choice between two mutually exclusive truths. For example, conflicting reports may simply differ in detail, but contradictory reports assert opposite facts.

conflictinginconsistent ↗incompatible ↗contrary ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • a pair of contradictory...
  • contradictory to what...
  • seemingly contradictory...

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

From Latin contradictorius, from contradicere 'to speak against', combined from contra- 'against' and dicere 'to say'. The word entered English in the early 16th century, originally used in formal logic and theology before broadening to everyday contexts.