contradictious

A student gives a contradictious reply to the teacher's question.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Inclined to contradict: "contradictious" describes a person who is habitually argumentative, fond of opposing others, or prone to stating the opposite of what has been said. It implies a contentious or quarrelsome disposition, often without strong reason.
   • Given to denial or opposition: The word can also refer to a tendency to deny or reject statements, ideas, or requests in a way that is stubborn or unreasonable.

Usage Examples

• (She was habitually argumentative and opposed others' ideas.)
• (He became more inclined to argue and disagree.)
• (His remarks were consistently oppositional and unhelpful.)

Advanced Usage

• "a contradictious spirit": a disposition or attitude of being argumentative.
  • The committee struggled with a member who had a contradictious spirit, blocking progress on every decision. (A member who habitually opposed others hindered the group.)

Variants and Related Words

• Contradictiousness (n): the quality or state of being contradictious.

  • His contradictiousness alienated his colleagues, who preferred cooperative dialogue. (His argumentative quality pushed people away.)

• Contradict (v): to assert the opposite of a statement; to deny.

  • She would contradict everything he said, even when he was correct. (She would oppose his statements.)

• Contradiction (n): the act of saying the opposite; a statement that opposes another.

  • There was a clear contradiction between his words and his actions. (A direct opposition existed.)

Synonyms

• Argumentative: given to arguing; inclined to dispute.
• Contentious: causing or likely to cause disagreement; quarrelsome.
• Querulous: complaining in a whiny or petulant manner.
• Pugnacious: eager or quick to argue, fight, or conflict.

Related Idioms

• To be at cross purposes: to have opposing aims or misunderstand each other, often leading to argument.

  • Their contradictious attitudes meant they were always at cross purposes during negotiations. (They consistently opposed each other's goals.)

• To play devil's advocate: to argue a contrary position for the sake of debate, though not necessarily holding that view.

  • Though he was not really contradictious, he sometimes played devil's advocate to test ideas. (He argued the opposite side for discussion, not out of habit.)