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
This is where a big contradiction comes in: if Americans buy fewer foreign cars, tariff revenue goes down.
—Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR, 19 Jan. 2025
This dichotomy between Bitcoin and Monero might actually represent the natural evolution of the cryptocurrency ecosystem rather than a contradiction.
—Boaz Sobrado, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
Mireya Martinez is a Mexican American filmmaker, writer, and producer interested in telling stories that hold the magnitude and contradictions of our humanity.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 17 Jan. 2025
Despite the prince’s change of heart, the finale doesn’t quite work out that contradiction.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for contradiction 
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Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR, 19 Jan. 2025
This dichotomy between Bitcoin and Monero might actually represent the natural evolution of the cryptocurrency ecosystem rather than a contradiction.
—Boaz Sobrado, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
Mireya Martinez is a Mexican American filmmaker, writer, and producer interested in telling stories that hold the magnitude and contradictions of our humanity.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 17 Jan. 2025
Despite the prince’s change of heart, the finale doesn’t quite work out that contradiction.
—Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2025
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 24 Jan. 2025.
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
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