counterintuitive

adjective

coun·​ter·​in·​tu·​i·​tive ˌkau̇n-tər-in-ˈtü-ə-tiv How to pronounce counterintuitive (audio)
-ˈtyü-
: contrary to what one would intuitively expect
As counterintuitive as it may seem, the universe has no center, and it has no boundary.Jim Bell
counterintuitively adverb

Examples of counterintuitive in a Sentence

It may seem counterintuitive, but we do burn calories when we are sleeping.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
This is counterintuitive to be sure, but still very true. Dennis C. McAndrews, Baltimore Sun, 27 Nov. 2024 That result may seem counterintuitive, given that most Americans see climate change as a threat and believe human actions are the cause of it. Stephanie Hanes, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Nov. 2024 While these therapies may seem counterintuitive given that POTS can cause exercise intolerance, POTS symptoms can actually worsen with physical deconditioning (physical decline due to inactivity). Heidi Cope, Health, 6 Nov. 2024 Over the past few days, meanwhile, yields actually have eased if just a bit, coming off a somewhat counterintuitive surge of about a quarter percentage point, or 25 basis points, following the Fed move. Jeff Cox, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for counterintuitive 

Word History

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of counterintuitive was in 1955

Dictionary Entries Near counterintuitive

Cite this Entry

“Counterintuitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterintuitive. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

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