contradiction

/ˌkɒntrəˈdɪkʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌkɑːntrəˈdɪkʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌkän-trə-ˈdik-shən/ (ame, mw)

contradiction — noun

  • contradictionsingular
  • contradictionsplural

1. two statements, ideas, or sets of facts each saying the opposite of the other, m

1.名詞B2
釋義

two statements, ideas, or sets of facts each saying the opposite of the other, making it impossible for both to be correct.

例句

Paloma noticed a contradiction between the company's safety rules and the way workers actually behaved.

contradiction between X and Y

There is a contradiction in the two reports: one says Tuesday, the other Wednesday.

同義詞
  • inconsistency

    less direct; suggests parts do not match rather than being complete opposites

  • conflict

    stronger; implies active opposition rather than logical incompatibility

  • discrepancy

    focuses on a difference between things that should match, not on logical opposition

反義詞
  • agreement

    the state of matching or being consistent

  • consistency

    the quality of parts fitting together without conflict

  • harmony

    implies a pleasing or natural fit rather than mere agreement

文法句型

a/the contradiction between X and Y

a contradiction in X

用法筆記

Commonly appears in the patterns 'contradiction between X and Y' (comparing two things) and 'contradiction in X' (within one thing). The adjective form is 'contradictory'.

常見錯誤

❌There is a contradiction of the two statements.
✅There is a contradiction between the two statements.
💡use 'between' not 'of' when pointing out two conflicting items.
❌It is a contradiction that he came late.
✅It is a contradiction that he said he was early yet arrived late.
💡a contradiction requires two opposing claims, not just one unexpected event.

2. a phrase or statement that combines words with opposite meanings, so that the ov

2.名詞B2
釋義

a phrase or statement that combines words with opposite meanings, so that the overall expression does not make logical sense.

例句

The phrase 'silent scream' is a contradiction because a scream must make a sound.

example of a contradictory phrase

The critic called 'military intelligence' a contradiction in terms, and the audience laughed.

contradiction in terms (fixed phrase)

同義詞
  • oxymoron

    the technical rhetorical term; more formal than contradiction

  • paradox

    a statement that seems self-contradictory but may reveal a deeper truth

反義詞
  • consistency

    the quality of parts fitting together logically

  • coherence

    the quality of making sense as a whole

文法句型

a contradiction in terms

X is a contradiction

用法筆記

Often used in the fixed expression 'a contradiction in terms' to label a phrase whose parts conflict. 'Oxymoron' is a more technical term for the same idea.

常見錯誤

❌The idea is a contradiction in term.
✅The idea is a contradiction in terms.
💡the phrase is always 'in terms' (plural), never 'in term'.

3. the act of openly stating that a claim made by another person is false or incorr

3.名詞B2
釋義

the act of openly stating that a claim made by another person is false or incorrect.

例句

The journalist's contradiction of the official story appeared on the front page of the paper.

contradiction of + story/claim

Gabriel listened to the criticism without offering a single word of contradiction.

同義詞
  • denial

    stronger; asserts that something is false, while contradiction challenges the speaker

  • rebuttal

    more formal; presents counter-arguments rather than a simple denial

  • refutation

    formal and often technical; suggests proving a statement false with evidence

反義詞
  • confirmation

    a statement that supports what someone else has said

  • agreement

    the act of sharing or accepting someone else's view

文法句型

contradiction of + statement/claim/report

without contradiction

用法筆記

Often used in the pattern 'contradiction of + [statement/claim/report]' to specify what is being disputed. When used as an uncountable noun ('without contradiction'), it describes an absence of opposition.