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
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Document the counterintuitive strategies that actually worked. Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025 Another, more counterintuitive factor is privacy and neutrality. Yasmin Green, Foreign Affairs, 7 July 2025 And the logistics of reading thicc bois is counterintuitive to me. James Folta july 2, Literary Hub, 2 July 2025 For each one, rewrite the opening line or hook using 3 different psychological angles: curiosity gap, bold statement, or counterintuitive claim. Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Counterintuitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterintuitive. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.

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