contradictory
gb/kˌɑntɹədˈɪktɚi/ us/kˌɑntɹədˈɪktɚi/
B2
English
~ 9700
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
mutually inconsistent or opposing
describes ideas, facts, or statements that say opposite things and cannot all be true at the same time
Usage pattern:
[something] is contradictory to [something]; contradictory [statement/fact/claim]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "contradictory" with "contrary" or "different". "Contradictory" means that two things cannot both be true at the same time, not just that they are not the same. Another mistake is using it for people instead of their statements or ideas, where "contradictory" usually describes what is said or written, not who says it.
Synonyms
conflicting (very close in meaning; more general and slightly more common in everyday speech.)
|
inconsistent (focuses on not matching or fitting together, and can sound slightly more formal or technical.)
|
incompatible (emphasizes that two things cannot exist or be true together, often in technical or formal contexts.)
Antonyms
consistent (describes statements or facts that agree with each other and can all be true together.)
|
compatible (describes things that can exist, work, or be true together without conflict.)
Collocations
contradictory statements
|contradictory evidence
|contradictory information
|contradictory claims
|contradictory accounts
|mutually contradictory
Themes
logic
|communication
|academia
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The two witnesses gave contradictory statements about what happened that night.
- Some of the study’s results are contradictory and need further investigation.
- His actions are contradictory to his earlier promises of transparency.
- The report contains several contradictory pieces of information about the company’s finances.
- These two theories are mutually contradictory and cannot both be correct.
Learner examples
- The students gave contradictory answers to the same question.
- Her words are contradictory to the facts we know.
- The article presents contradictory information about the new law.
- These two ideas are contradictory, so we must choose one.
- The judges said the evidence was weak and often contradictory.
adjective
C1
property
2
inclined to disagree or oppose
describes someone who often says the opposite or disagrees with other people
Usage pattern:
[someone] is (being) contradictory
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes overuse this sense and say things like *"my friend is contradictory"* when *"argumentative"* or *"difficult"* might be more natural. In everyday English, this sense is less common than the one describing statements, and many speakers prefer other adjectives for personality.
Synonyms
argumentative (suggests a stronger, more active desire to argue; often more negative in tone.)
|
contrary (very close in meaning; often used for people who like to take the opposite view.)
Antonyms
agreeable (describes someone who is easy to get along with and does not often oppose others.)
|
cooperative (focuses on a person’s willingness to work with others instead of resisting them.)
Collocations
a contradictory person
|seems very contradictory
|deliberately contradictory
|unhelpful and contradictory
Themes
personality
|communication
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He can be quite contradictory, challenging almost everything you say.
- Her contradictory nature makes group decisions very difficult.
- Stop being so contradictory and try to listen for a moment.
- The child was in a contradictory mood and refused every suggestion.
- People found him brilliant but also stubborn and deeply contradictory.
Learner examples
- My brother is very contradictory and always says the opposite.
- She is sometimes helpful but often very contradictory in meetings.
- When he is tired, he becomes more contradictory and hard to work with.
- The manager said our team seemed confused and strangely contradictory.
- I do not want to be contradictory, but I cannot agree with this plan.
Grammar
Dictionary form
contradictory
IPA
GB/kˌɑntɹədˈɪktɚi/
US/kˌɑntɹədˈɪktɚi/
Syllables & stress
con - tra - dict - ory (4 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (dict)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: contradictory
Word family
Core family
contradict
verb B2
contradiction
noun B2
Related words
contrary
adjective B2
Negative and opposite forms
consistent
adjective B1
Advanced or less common
contradictorily
adverb
Expressions
contradictory to
1/kˌɑntɹədˈɪktɚi tə/
fixed phrase
formal
in logical conflict with
used to say that one thing is against or does not fit another thing, so they cannot both be true
Examples
- His account is completely contradictory to the video evidence.
- The new policy is contradictory to the company’s stated values.
mutually contradictory
1/mjˈut͡ʃuəli kˌɑntɹədˈɪktɚi/
fixed phrase
contradicting each other
describes two or more ideas, facts, or reports that cannot all be true at the same time because they oppose each other
Examples
- The witnesses gave mutually contradictory accounts of the crash.
- These two explanations are mutually contradictory and one of them must be wrong.
self-contradictory
1/sˈɛlf kˌɑntɹədˈɪktɚi/
fixed phrase
containing a contradiction within itself
describes a statement or idea that goes against itself so that its parts cannot all be true together
Examples
- The argument is self-contradictory, claiming both that the law is fair and that no fair law exists.
- Her speech was self-contradictory, first rejecting the plan and later praising it as necessary.