Word
contradictory
Meanings
containing ideas or statements that conflict and cannot both be true
showing inconsistency between someone’s words and actions, or between different actions
Definition
If something is contradictory, it contains statements or ideas that cannot both be true.
Contradictory describes words, actions, or information that conflict with each other. It often means two statements disagree so they cannot both be correct at the same time. People also use it to describe behavior that does not match what someone previously said or did.
Examples
- I found your email contradictory, so I asked for clarification.
- She gave contradictory instructions about where to meet.
- They received contradictory feedback from two different reviewers.
- His apology sounded contradictory when he repeated the same behavior the next day.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse contradictory (inconsistent or conflicting) with contrary (simply opposite or different).
More adjectives
- agnostic An agnostic is someone who does not claim to know whether God exists.
- pragmatic Pragmatic means focused on practical results rather than ideals or theories.
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- cynical Cynical describes believing that people are mainly motivated by self-interest and not sincere.
- apathetic Apathetic means showing little or no interest, concern, or enthusiasm.