contradict Definition
con·tra·dict (kän′trə dikt′)
transitive verb
- to assert the opposite of (what someone else has said)
- to deny the statement of (a person)
- to declare (a statement, report, etc.) to be false or incorrect
- to be contrary or opposed to; go against the facts contradict his theory
Etymology: < L contradictus, pp. of contradicere < contra-, contra- + dicere, to speak: see diction
intransitive verb
to speak in denial; oppose verbally
contradict Related Forms
con′·tra·dict′·able adjective
con′·tra·dic′·tor noun or con′·tra·dict′er
contradict Synonyms
contradict
v.
contradict Usage Examples
Subject
- fact: You say my position is contradicted by many facts, then claim that despite all these facts they are not worth presenting.
- evidence: Mr Oliver gave clear and unambiguous advice about that which has not been contradicted by any other evidence.
- research: IN TEXT Smith [ 8 ] argued that... but this is contradicted by more recent research [ 9-15 ] .
- reality: We are led to believe that there is currently a Muslim problem in French schools even tho this is completely contradicted by reality.
Object
- bennett: Em skills in to two supremely to contradict bennett speculate about possible.
- assertion: There is nothing in Paul's writings that really contradicts the assertion.
- rhetoric: This authoritarian methodology clearly contradicted the libertarian rhetoric within Deleuze and Guattari's writings.
- notion: There are very few in the public limelight willing to contradict the implausible notion of a house price plateau.
- assumption: Both surveys have consistently contradicted assumptions about low levels of involvement of young people.
- hypothesis: The first alternative contradicts the hypothesis, the second involves, to put it mildly, a serious anachronism.
Used with why or when
what: The comments may even contradict what a previous referee has said.
Preposition: by
- fact: You say my position is contradicted by many facts, then claim that despite all these facts they are not worth presenting.
- evidence: Mr Oliver gave clear and unambiguous advice about that which has not been contradicted by any other evidence.
- research: IN TEXT Smith [ 8 ] argued that... but this is contradicted by more recent research [ 9-15 ] .
Modifying Another Word
- flatly: We know of early Christian writings that flatly contradict the Gospel stories.
- directly: His report directly contradicted what his colleague had said a year earlier.
- seemingly: Trescothick's explanation seemingly contradicts England's guarded explanation after he made a tearful exit from the India tour nearly seven weeks ago.
- apparently: The risen Jesus was not as he was, thus apparently contradicting the gospels.
- completely: Oh no, I am about to completely contradict myself.
- totally: This of course totally contradicts his previous advice to the trustees.
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