To contradictto say or show that an idea or statement is not true something is to say or show that it is not true, or to conflictto be in disagreement or not fit together with it in a clear way. It is often used when one statementa sentence or remark that expresses a fact or opinion, fact, or action does not match another.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /kahn-truh-DIKT/
Easy pronunciation: kon-truh-DIKT (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the last syllable: dict.
Verb: to say something is not true; to deny or disagree with it.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Contradict Meaning
to disagree with and deny something
Part of speech: verb
Definition: say that something is not true; state the opposite of something
Example: She contradicted his story by saying she was with him the whole time.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- deny — A close everyday substitute when someone says something is not true.
- negate — Works in more formal or logical contexts, but is less common in everyday speech.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Contradict
Meaning 2
to be inconsistent with something
Part of speech: verb
Definition: be in conflict with; not match or agree with
Example: His later comments contradicted what he had said earlier.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- belie — Works when one thing shows that another is not true or does not fit.
- negate — Can fit in formal usage when one thing cancels out or weakens another.
Meaning 3
to prove something false
Part of speech: verb
Definition: show that something is false or wrong
Example: The new evidence contradicted the original theory.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- negate — Can work when evidence or facts prove a claim false.
Meaning 4
to work against something
Part of speech: verb
Definition: oppose or resist an idea, rule, or action
Example: His actions contradicted the company’s policy.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- oppose — Only fits when the sense is active resistance or opposition, not simple disagreement.
- contravene — Best used for breaking a rule or law, so it is narrower than contradict.
- controvert — More formal and usually means to dispute or challenge a claim.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Contradict Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- deny
- negate
be in conflict with or not match
- belie
- negate
prove false
- negate
oppose or resist
- oppose
- contravene
- controvert
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People sometimes use contradict to mean simply 'oppose,' but the usual meaning is to say, show, or be something that does not agree with another statement or fact.
- Contradict is not the same as debate; it specifically involves disagreement or incompatibility.
- Negate can be a synonym in formal usage, but it is not always a natural everyday replacement.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does contradict mean in simple words?
It means to say something is not true, or to conflict with something else in a clear way.
What is a common synonym for contradict?
A common synonym is deny, especially when someone says a statement is false.
Can contradict mean ‘be different from’?
Yes, in some cases it means to conflict with or not match something else.
Is negate always a synonym for contradict?
No. It can work in formal or logical contexts, but it is not a perfect everyday substitute in every sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
