contradiction
Mutually exclusive claims
Contradiction is a statement or situation in which elements conflict or cancel each other out.
Two claims contradict when both cannot be true: His alibi was full of contradictions.
A contradiction in terms is a phrase whose parts oppose each other, like "deafening silence." To say something is a contradiction suggests internal inconsistency or logical impossibility.
Difference between expected and actual
- incongruityLack of harmony
- varianceSpread around the mean
- disparityMeasurable difference between things
- mismatchIncompatible combination
divergence · discordance · misalignment · anomaly · deviation · conflict · clash · disagreement
Disproving a statement
- disavowalRejection of connection
- rejectionDenial of acceptance
- negationDenial or cancellation
- repudiationFormal refusal to accept
rebuttal · retraction · recantation · disclaimer · gainsaying · naysaying · disconfirmation · renunciation
Seemingly absurd truth
- antinomyContradiction between valid conclusions
- oxymoronSelf-contradicting phrase device
- self-refutationAssertion negating itself
- inconsistencyLack of steady pattern
absurdity · impossibility · incoherence · fallacy · sophism · catch-22 · conundrum · irony
Opposed in nature
- converseEngage in dialogue
- inverseOpposite in position
- polarOf extreme latitudes
- dichotomyDivision into contrasting parts
juxtaposition · counterpoint · contrast · antipode · diametric · conflicting · incompatible · irreconcilable
Academic argument requiring defense
- synthesisCombining parts into whole
- HegelGerman absolute idealist philosopher
- MarxGerman economic philosopher
- dialecticalRelating to logical debate
materialism · negation · philosophy · resolution · transcendence · unity · opposition
discrepancy
Difference between expected and actual
- incongruityLack of harmony
- varianceSpread around the mean
- disparityMeasurable difference between things
mismatch · divergence · discordance · misalignment · anomaly · deviation · conflict · clash · disagreement · tension
refutation
Disproving a statement
repudiation · rebuttal · retraction · recantation · disclaimer · gainsaying · naysaying · disconfirmation · renunciation · dismissal
paradox
Seemingly absurd truth
- antinomyContradiction between valid conclusions
- oxymoronSelf-contradicting phrase device
- self-refutationAssertion negating itself
inconsistency · absurdity · impossibility · incoherence · fallacy · sophism · catch-22 · conundrum · irony · nonsensical
contrary
Opposed in nature
dichotomy · juxtaposition · counterpoint · contrast · antipode · diametric · conflicting · incompatible · irreconcilable · clashing
thesis
Academic argument requiring defense
- synthesisCombining parts into whole
- HegelGerman absolute idealist philosopher
- MarxGerman economic philosopher
dialectical · materialism · negation · philosophy · resolution · transcendence · unity · opposition
- incompatibilitiesmismatch, conflict, clash, friction, discord
- philosophy termstruth, reason, knowledge, wisdom, logic
- contradictionsparadox, oxymoron, paradoxes, oxymorons, self-refutation
- refutationdisproof, disproving, refutation, rebuttal, counterargument
- Dualityduality, dual nature, two sides, yin and yang, yin-yang
- literary paradoxesoxymoron, catch-22, antinomy, self-reference, circular reasoning
contradictionconsistency
Reliable adherence to standards
coherence · harmony · agreement · compatibility · congruence
contradictionconfirmation
Establishing something as true
agreement · affirmation · corroboration · endorsement · acknowledgment
- contradiction in termsPhrase with incompatible elements
- logical contradictionMutually exclusive claims combined
- proof by contradictionDisprove by assuming converse