Library / English Dictionary

CONTRADICT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Prove negative; show to be false

Synonyms:

contradict; negate

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "contradict" is one way to...):

demonstrate; establish; prove; shew; show (establish the validity of something, as by an example, explanation or experiment)

Domain category:

logic; logical system; system of logic (a system of reasoning)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "contradict"):

invalidate; nullify (show to be invalid)

confute; disprove (prove to be false)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Sense 2

Meaning:

Be resistant to

Example:

The board opposed his motion

Synonyms:

contradict; controvert; oppose

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "contradict" is one way to...):

rebut; refute (overthrow by argument, evidence, or proof)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "contradict"):

blackball; negative; veto (vote against; refuse to endorse; refuse to assent)

dissent; protest; resist (express opposition through action or words)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Deny the truth of

Synonyms:

contradict; contravene; negate

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "contradict" is one way to...):

differ; disagree; dissent; take issue (be of different opinions)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "contradict"):

deny (declare untrue; contradict)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

contradiction (the speech act of contradicting someone)

contradictory (unable for both to exist or be true at the same time)

contradictory (of words or propositions so related that both cannot be true and both cannot be false)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Be in contradiction with

Synonyms:

belie; contradict; negate

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Hypernyms (to "contradict" is one way to...):

depart; deviate; diverge; vary (be at variance with; be out of line with)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Derivation:

contradictory (unable for both to exist or be true at the same time)

contradictory (in disagreement)

contradictory (that confounds or contradicts or confuses)

contradictory (of words or propositions so related that both cannot be true and both cannot be false)

Credits

 Context examples: 

The research also shows the existence of ancient HBV genotypes in locations incompatible with their present-day distribution, contradicting previously-suggested geographical origins of the virus.

(Oldest genetic evidence of Hepatitis B virus found in ancient DNA from 4,500 year-old skeletons, University of Cambridge)

This surprising discovery contradicts previous studies of other eye diseases suggesting that the complement system worsens retinal degeneration.

(Immune system can slow degenerative eye disease, National Institutes of Health)

She could not contradict it, and therefore suffered herself to be detained, though her dread of further questions made her, for the first time in their acquaintance, wish to leave him.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

A small sigh escaped Fanny here, and she did not know how to contradict him.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

"My love you contradict every body," said his wife with her usual laugh.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

These findings contradict the results of previous studies, and call into question the role of exercise in improving BAT function.

(Increasing the level of physical activity is found not to improve the functioning of brown adipose tissue, University of Granada)

The findings contradict the long-held assumption that crop failures in geographically distant breadbasket nations such as the United States, China and Argentina are unrelated.

(El Niño linked to widespread crop failures, SciDev.Net)

I have perused several books of travels with great delight in my younger days; but having since gone over most parts of the globe, and been able to contradict many fabulous accounts from my own observation, it has given me a great disgust against this part of reading, and some indignation to see the credulity of mankind so impudently abused.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

The results contradict some earlier studies, which had suggested that more water was detected at the Moon’s polar latitudes and that the strength of the water signal waxes and wanes according to the lunar day (29.5 Earth days).

(On Second Thought, the Moon's Water May Be Widespread and Immobile, NASA)

The findings contradict an earlier study indicating that high levels of calcium were associated with increased prevalence of AMD, but they are consistent with another suggesting that calcium has a protective role in AMD.

(No evidence that calcium increases risk of age-related macular degeneration, National Institutes of Health)