contradiction

A difference between ideas, facts, or claims that means they cannot all be true or fit together.

• Their stories contain several contradictions.
• There is a contradiction between her words and her actions.
• The scientist tried to resolve the apparent contradiction in the results.

How to use it: a contradiction between A and B (There is a contradiction between the two accounts.); in contradiction to something (The results are in contradiction to our theory.)

Similar words: inconsistency, conflict

Opposites: consistency

Common phrases: apparent contradiction, resolve a contradiction

A statement with parts that cannot all be true at the same time.

• That sentence contains a contradiction.
• Calling it a square circle is a contradiction in terms.
• Can you find the contradiction in this statement?

Similar words: self-contradiction

Common phrases: contradiction in terms, obvious contradiction

The act of saying that something someone has said is wrong or untrue.

• He accepted the news without contradiction.
• Her reply was a contradiction of his earlier statement.
• The manager would tolerate no contradiction from his staff.

How to use it: a contradiction of something (His reply was a direct contradiction of her claim.)

Similar words: denial, disagreement

Opposites: agreement

Common phrases: direct contradiction, contradiction of something