Definition

1. Noun:
   • A statement or situation in which two or more elements are opposed, making both impossible to be true simultaneously: A contradiction occurs when one part denies or conflicts with another, creating logical inconsistency.
   • The act of asserting that a statement is false or incorrect: The act of directly opposing or denying what someone else has said.
   • A direct opposition between things compared; inconsistency: A state of conflict between two forces, ideas, or facts.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • His claim that he was home all night is in direct contradiction with the security footage. (His statement conflicts with the evidence.)
  • Saying you are an environmentalist but never recycling is a living contradiction. (Your actions oppose your stated beliefs.)
  • The lawyer pointed out a major contradiction in the witness's testimony. (The lawyer identified inconsistent statements.)

Advanced Usage

• "A contradiction in terms": A phrase that combines words with opposing meanings, creating an inherent impossibility.
  • "A silent roar" is a contradiction in terms. (The phrase itself is logically inconsistent.)
• "Proof by contradiction" (reductio ad absurdum): A logical method where a statement is proven true by showing that assuming it to be false leads to a contradiction.
  • The mathematician used proof by contradiction to demonstrate the theorem. (They showed the opposite assumption was impossible.)

Variants and Related Words

• Contradict (verb): To assert the opposite of a statement; to be in conflict with.
  • The new evidence seems to contradict the initial hypothesis.
• Contradictory (adjective): Mutually opposed or inconsistent.
  • She received contradictory advice from two different experts.
• Self-contradiction (noun): A statement or action that conflicts with itself.
  • Arguing for absolute free speech while supporting censorship is a self-contradiction.

Synonyms

• Inconsistency: The state of being inconsistent or lacking harmony.
• Discrepancy: A lack of compatibility or similarity between facts.
• Opposition: Resistance or dissent, expressed in action or argument.

Related Phrases

• In contradiction to: Directly opposing or conflicting with something.
  • His actions were in clear contradiction to his promises.
• Beyond contradiction: Undeniably true; impossible to dispute.
  • The authenticity of the document is beyond contradiction. (The document's authenticity is unquestionable.)

Idioms

• "Contradict oneself": To say two things that cannot both be true.
  • If you say you love animals but support cruel practices, you contradict yourself.

Noun

1. the speech act of contradicting someone
   • he spoke as if he thought his claims were immune to contradiction
2. (logic) a statement that is necessarily false
   • the statement `he is brave and he is not brave' is a contradiction
3. opposition between two conflicting forces or ideas