contradict

/ˌkɒntrəˈdɪkt/

Say it: kon-truh-DIKT

1. verb To deny the truth of a statement by asserting the opposite.
He didn't dare contradict his boss, even though he knew the numbers were wrong.
2. verb To be in conflict with; to be inconsistent with another fact or statement.
The forensic evidence completely contradicts the defendant's alibi.

📖 Seen in the wild

The new evidence seemed to contradict the witness's earlier testimony.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ contradict in a sentence

I hate to contradict you, but I'm certain the capital of Australia is Canberra, not Sydney.
The two studies contradict each other, which means more research is needed.
Her calm demeanor contradicted the frantic beating of her heart.
The politician's actions often contradict his public statements.
It's frustrating to argue with someone who constantly contradicts themselves.
The latest report from the field seems to contradict our initial assumptions.
Please provide any data that might contradict this conclusion.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

deny refute dispute challenge counter oppose gainsay

deny · implies a direct refusal to accept a statement as true.

refute · stronger than contradict; suggests proving something is false with evidence.

dispute · focuses on the element of argument or debate over a point.

challenge · implies questioning a statement's validity and demanding proof.

Opposites: confirm, corroborate, verify, support, affirm

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'contradict' comes to us from Latin. It's a direct combination of 'contra', meaning 'against', and 'dicere', meaning 'to speak'. So, at its heart, to contradict someone is literally 'to speak against' them.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

contradict the evidencedirectly contradictseem to contradictcontradict a claimcontradict oneself

Contradict can be used in two main ways: a person can contradict another person, or a fact can contradict another fact. It's a precise word for expressing direct opposition to a statement. While you can 'contradict' a statement, 'refute' is the better word if you mean you can prove it's false. Be careful not to say someone 'contradicted' when you just mean they 'disagreed'; contradicting is a more direct denial of a specific point.

Word family: contradiction, contradictory

💬 Quick answers

What does it mean to contradict someone?

It means to state that what a person has said is incorrect, often by saying the opposite is true. For example, if someone says 'It's hot today,' you contradict them by saying 'No, it's actually quite cold.'

What is the difference between 'contradict' and 'refute'?

To contradict is simply to state an opposing position. To refute is stronger; it means to prove a statement is wrong using evidence or argument.

Can facts or ideas contradict each other?

Yes. When two statements, pieces of evidence, or ideas are so inconsistent that they cannot both be true, they are said to contradict each other.

Is 'contradict' a formal word?

'Contradict' is a neutral word that is common in both formal and standard English. In very casual conversation, you might say 'that's not right' or 'I disagree' instead.

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