counterintuitive
adjective
coun·ter·in·tu·i·tive
ˌkau̇n-tər-in-ˈtü-ə-tiv 
-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
Jim BellExamples of counterintuitive in a Sentence
It may seem counterintuitive, but we do burn calories when we are sleeping.
Recent Examples on the Web
From garden snail to gastronomy Eating what many consider to be a slimy nuisance seems almost counterintuitive, but consuming land snails has a long history dating back to the Paleolithic period, some 70,000 to 170,000 years ago in southern Africa.
—Garritt C. Van Dyk, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 May 2025
At first glance, these ideas might seem counterintuitive, especially to those of us who grew up believing that the ultimate financial milestone was owning your home free and clear.
—James Lange, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
Discussing the future with junior employees might be counterintuitive, but Gen Z has been proven to be pragmatic.
—Lieke Ten Brummelhuis, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
To that end, the behind-the-scenes clips that Perry offers of his Pavement musical are the most delightful in the movie, just for the counterintuitive thrill of watching theater kids sing and dance through a catalog that would seem to defy their essential earnestness.
—Scott Tobias, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2025
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Garritt C. Van Dyk, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 May 2025
At first glance, these ideas might seem counterintuitive, especially to those of us who grew up believing that the ultimate financial milestone was owning your home free and clear.
—James Lange, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
Discussing the future with junior employees might be counterintuitive, but Gen Z has been proven to be pragmatic.
—Lieke Ten Brummelhuis, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
To that end, the behind-the-scenes clips that Perry offers of his Pavement musical are the most delightful in the movie, just for the counterintuitive thrill of watching theater kids sing and dance through a catalog that would seem to defy their essential earnestness.
—Scott Tobias, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterintuitive
Cite this Entry
“Counterintuitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterintuitive. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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