English Meaning & Definitions
Mutually opposed or inconsistent; so related that both cannot be true at the same time.
- “The two witnesses gave contradictory accounts of the accident.”
- “His actions are contradictory to his stated beliefs.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “contradictory”.
Derived from the Late Latin 'contradictorius', from Latin 'contradictus', past participle of 'contradicere' (to speak against, oppose), from 'contra-' (against) + 'dicere' (to speak).
Think of 'contra' (against) + 'dict' (speak)—two statements speaking against each other cannot both be true.
Frequently Asked Questions About “contradictory”
1. What is the meaning of “contradictory” in English?
In English, contradictory (adjective) is defined as: “Mutually opposed or inconsistent; so related that both cannot be true at the same time.”.
2. How do you use “contradictory” in a sentence?
“The two witnesses gave contradictory accounts of the accident.”
3. What are English synonyms of “contradictory”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “contradictory”?
Derived from the Late Latin 'contradictorius', from Latin 'contradictus', past participle of 'contradicere' (to speak against, oppose), from 'contra-' (against) + 'dicere' (to speak).
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A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
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