CONTRADICTORY: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for CONTRADICTORY?

Need another word that means the same as “contradictory”? Find 14 synonyms and 30 related words for “contradictory” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Contradictory” are: conflicting, self-contradictory, confounding, opposed, in opposition, opposite, antithetical, contrary, contrasting, opposing, clashing, divergent, discrepant, different

Contradictory as an Adjective

Definitions of "Contradictory" as an adjective

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “contradictory” as an adjective can have the following definitions:

• Unable for both to exist or be true at the same time.
• In disagreement.
• Of words or propositions so related that both cannot be true and both cannot be false.
• In disagreement- John Morley.
• Unable to be both true at the same time.
• Mutually opposed or inconsistent.
• (of two propositions) so related that one and only one must be true.
• That confounds or contradicts or confuses.
• Containing elements which are inconsistent.

Synonyms of "Contradictory" as an adjective (14 Words)

antithetical	Directly opposed or contrasted; mutually incompatible. Practices entirely antithetical to her professed beliefs.
clashing	(of colours) appearing discordant or ugly when placed close to each other. Clashing colors.
conflicting	In disagreement. There are conflicting accounts of what occurred.
confounding	That confounds or contradicts or confuses.
contrary	(of two propositions) so related that one or neither but not both must be true. Hot and cold are contrary terms.
contrasting	Differing strikingly. Contrasting colours.
different	Unlike in nature or quality or form or degree. That s another or different issue altogether.
discrepant	Not in agreement. Widely discrepant statements.
divergent	(of a series) increasing indefinitely as more of its terms are added. Divergent interpretations.
in opposition	Directed or bound inward.
opposed	Anxious to prevent or put an end to; disagreeing with. The agency is being asked to do two diametrically opposed things.
opposing	In conflict or competition with someone or something. On the opposing page there were two addresses.
opposite	Of angles between opposite sides of the intersection of two lines. Opposite leaves.
self-contradictory	In disagreement- John Morley.

Usage Examples of "Contradictory" as an adjective

• `perfect' and `imperfect' are contradictory terms.
• Politically he exhibited contradictory behaviour.
• The two studies came to contradictory conclusions.
• Contradictory attributes of unjust justice and loving vindictiveness.

Associations of "Contradictory" (30 Words)

ambivalence	The state of having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone. Government ambivalence towards the arts.
anachronism	Something located at a time when it could not have existed or occurred. It is anachronism to suppose that the official morality of the age was mere window dressing.
antagonistic	Characterized by antagonism or antipathy. Slaves antagonistic to their masters.
antinomy	A contradiction between two beliefs or conclusions that are in themselves reasonable; a paradox. There are not many short novels capable of accommodating bewildering antinomies.
antithesis	(in Hegelian philosophy) the negation of the thesis as the second stage in the process of dialectical reasoning. Figures of speech such as antithesis.
conflicting	On bad terms. There are conflicting accounts of what occurred.
contradiction	A combination of statements, ideas, or features which are opposed to one another. He spoke as if he thought his claims were immune to contradiction.
contrary	A contrary proposition. She is sulky and contrary where her work is concerned.
cynicism	A school of ancient Greek philosophers, the Cynics. Cynicism about the future.
discordant	Lacking in harmony. The operative principle of democracy is a balance of discordant qualities.
discrepant	Characterized by an illogical or surprising lack of compatibility or similarity. The reasons for these discrepant results are unclear.
disjunction	State of being disconnected. There is a disjunction between the skills taught in education and those demanded in the labour market.
dissonant	Characterized by musical dissonance; harmonically unresolved. Jackson employs both harmonious and dissonant colour choices.
incompatible	Not easy to combine harmoniously. Incompatible personalities.
incongruous	Lacking in harmony or compatibility or appropriateness. A plan incongruous with reason.
inconsistency	An inconsistent aspect or element. The inconsistency between his expressed attitudes and his actual behaviour.
inconsistent	Not capable of being made consistent or harmonious. The quality of the material was often inconsistent.
inharmonious	Lacking in harmony of parts. An inharmonious negative state of mind.
inhospitable	Unfavorable to life or growth. The barren inhospitable desert.
ironic	Humorously sarcastic or mocking. It was ironical that the well planned scheme failed so completely.
irony	A state of affairs or an event that seems deliberately contrary to what one expects and is often wryly amusing as a result. Don t go overboard with the gratitude he rejoined with heavy irony.
opposing	Facing; opposite. On the opposing page there were two addresses.
oxymoron	Conjoining contradictory terms (as in `deafening silence.
paradox	A seemingly absurd or contradictory statement or proposition which when investigated may prove to be well founded or true. Cathedrals face the paradox of having enormous wealth in treasures but huge annual expenses.
paradoxical	Seemingly contradictory but nonetheless possibly true. By glorifying the acts of violence they achieve the paradoxical effect of making them trivial.
sarcasm	Witty language used to convey insults or scorn. He used sarcasm to upset his opponent.
satire	A genre of literature characterized by the use of satire. The crude satire seems to be directed at the fashionable protest singers of the time.
tautology	A statement that is true by necessity or by virtue of its logical form. The statement he is brave or he is not brave is a tautology.
unfriendly	Not disposed to friendship or friendliness. User unfriendly.
unsuited	Not right or appropriate. He was totally unsuited for the job.