contradiction
Pluralcontradictions
- 1A clash between two ideas or facts that cannot both be true.
Like saying the same door is open and shut at the very same time.
There's a contradiction between what he says and what he does.
The two new rules created a contradiction that confused everyone.
Similarinconsistency, discrepancy, conflict, incongruity, clash
Oppositeconsistency, agreement
Note
- 2A statement that says something is both true and false at the same time.
Like saying it is raining and not raining at the very same moment.
"I always lie" is a contradiction, because if it's true then it must be false.
Her excuse was a contradiction: she claimed to be at home and at work at once.
Note
- 3The act of saying that something another person said is not true.
Like telling someone "no, that's wrong" right after they speak.
She listened without contradiction, even though she disagreed with him.
His constant contradiction of the teacher annoyed the whole class.
Similardenial, challenge, objection, rebuttal, refutation
Oppositeconfirmation, agreement, corroboration
Note
- 4A statement that is always false, no matter what values you put into it.
Like a lamp that stays dark no matter which switch you flip.
In logic class, "P and not P" is a contradiction that can never be true.
No matter which truth values you try, a contradiction stays false.
Oppositetautology
Note
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Origin
It comes from Latin contrādīcō, meaning "speak against," and reached English through Old French.