contradictory

B2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˌkɑntɹəˈdɪktəɹi/ UK /ˌkɒntɹəˈdɪkt(ə)ɹi/ See IPA manual

Freq #25062

Meanings

1

adj
Containing or describing things that cannot both be true; in conflict with each other.

Witnesses gave contradictory accounts of the accident.
2

adj
Completely opposed to something.

Their plan is contradictory to common sense.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · containing or describing... conflicting inconsistent incompatible

2 adj · completely opposed to... opposedat odds

More opposite

Word family

Forms contradictories

Derived forms contradictorilycontradictorinessintercontradictorynon-contradictorynoncontradictoryself-contradictoryuncontradictory

Related forms contradict contradictioncontradictorious

Etymology

Borrowed from Late Latin contradictorius, from Latin contradico. Equivalent to contradict + -ory.

contradictorius la-lat contradico Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# contradictory

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˌkɑntɹəˈdɪktəɹi/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌkɒntɹəˈdɪkt(ə)ɹi/
**Frequency rank:** 25062

## Meanings
1. Containing or describing things that cannot both be true; in conflict with each other.
2. Completely opposed to something.

## Examples
- Witnesses gave contradictory accounts of the accident.
- Their plan is contradictory to common sense.

## Synonyms
- opposite

## Derived Forms
- contradictorily
- contradictoriness
- intercontradictory
- non-contradictory
- noncontradictory
- self-contradictory
- uncontradictory

## Related Forms
- contradict
- contradiction
- contradictorious

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: contradictorius
- Root: contradico

## Etymology
Borrowed from Late Latin contradictorius, from Latin contradico. Equivalent to contradict + -ory.

## AI Etymology
contradictory is an adjective and noun. It was borrowed from Late Latin contradictorius, from Latin contradico. Equivalent to contradict + -ory. Historical forms in the chain include contradictorius (Late Latin) and contradico (Latin). Current senses include containing or describing things that cannot both be true; in conflict with each other and completely opposed to something. Derived forms include contradictorily, contradictoriness, intercontradictory, non-contradictory, and noncontradictory. Related words include contradict, contradiction, and contradictorious.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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