contradictory

Giving information that disagrees with something else, so both cannot be right.

• The witnesses gave contradictory accounts.
• We received contradictory advice from two doctors.
• These reports contain contradictory information about the accident.

Similar words: conflicting, inconsistent

Opposites: consistent

Common phrases: contradictory evidence, contradictory statements, contradictory accounts

Containing ideas or parts that cannot all be true or fit together.

• His explanation was internally contradictory.
• A square circle is a contradictory idea.
• The report makes a contradictory claim about its own results.

Similar words: self-contradictory, inconsistent

Opposites: consistent

Common phrases: internally contradictory, contradictory argument, contradictory statement

Completely opposed to something else in aim, character, or belief.

• The two groups had contradictory aims.
• Her actions were contradictory to her beliefs.
• The committee struggled to balance contradictory interests.

How to use it: contradictory to something (His actions were contradictory to his stated principles.)

Similar words: opposed, opposing, contrary

Opposites: compatible

Common phrases: contradictory aims, contradictory interests, contradictory to something

Unable to be true or possible at the same time.

• The two conditions are contradictory.
• Mutually contradictory statements cannot both be true.
• The rules impose contradictory requirements on applicants.

Similar words: mutually exclusive, incompatible

Opposites: compatible

Common phrases: contradictory propositions, mutually contradictory, contradictory conditions

A statement that must be false if another is true, and true if the other is false.

• Every proposition has a contradictory.
• If the statement is true, its contradictory is false.
• The students identified the contradictories of three propositions.

How to use it: the contradictory of something (The contradictory of this proposition is its negation.)

Similar words: negation

Common phrases: the contradictory, contradictory of something, a logical contradictory