contradiction
noun
con·tra·dic·tion
ˌkän-trə-ˈdik-shən 
1
: act or an instance of contradicting
the defendant's contradiction of the plaintiff's accusations
2
a
: a proposition, statement, or phrase that asserts or implies both the truth and falsity of something
… both parts of a contradiction cannot possibly be true …—
Thomas Hobbes
Thomas Hobbes
b
: a statement or phrase whose parts contradict each other
a round square is a contradiction in terms
3
a
: logical incongruity
b
: a situation in which inherent factors, actions, or propositions are inconsistent or contrary to one another
Examples of contradiction in a Sentence
No one was surprised by the defendant's contradiction of the plaintiff's accusations.
Her rebuttal contained many contradictions to my arguments.
There have been some contradictions in his statements.
There is a contradiction between what he said yesterday and what he said today.
Her statements are mired in contradiction.
What he said yesterday is in direct contradiction to what he said today.
Recent Examples on the Web
Their divergent paths mirror the contradictions in Iranian society of the late 20th century.
—The Know, The Denver Post, 3 Nov. 2024
Navajo soldier Ralph Anderson sent a letter to tribal leaders in 1943 with this exact contradiction on his mind.
—Ashawnta Jackson, JSTOR Daily, 1 Nov. 2024
Fiennes talks with correspondent Martha Teichner about the draw of playing characters with contradictions, and the thrill of finding a new role.
—David Morgan, CBS News, 25 Oct. 2024
There’s always going to be that struggle, that contradiction.
—Pat Saperstein, Variety, 17 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for contradiction 
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.
The Know, The Denver Post, 3 Nov. 2024
Navajo soldier Ralph Anderson sent a letter to tribal leaders in 1943 with this exact contradiction on his mind.
—Ashawnta Jackson, JSTOR Daily, 1 Nov. 2024
Fiennes talks with correspondent Martha Teichner about the draw of playing characters with contradictions, and the thrill of finding a new role.
—David Morgan, CBS News, 25 Oct. 2024
There’s always going to be that struggle, that contradiction.
—Pat Saperstein, Variety, 17 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for contradiction
Dictionary Entries Near contradiction
Cite this Entry
“Contradiction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contradiction. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
contradiction
noun
con·tra·dic·tion
ˌkän-trə-ˈdik-shən
1
: something (as a statement) that contradicts something else
2
: a condition in which things oppose each other
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share