contradictory
At odds internally
Contradictory describes things that cannot both be true at the same time.
Two statements are contradictory when affirming one means denying the other: His testimony was contradictory—he said he was home, then said he was at the bar.
People can be contradictory when their words or actions don't align: She's so contradictory, telling me to relax while piling on more work.
As a noun, a contradictory is a proposition that negates another.
Not in harmony
- discordantLacking musical agreement
- conflictingIncompatible with each other
- irreconcilableImpossible to resolve together
- discrepantNot in agreement
mismatched · incoherent · dissonant · incompatible · variable · erratic · unstable · unreliable
Disproving a statement
- rebuttalFormal response disputing claims
- negationDenial or cancellation
- disavowalRejection of connection
- repudiationFormal refusal to accept
rejection · dispute · challenge · counter-argument · objection · gainsaying · retort · counterstatement
Direct opposite; contrasting juxtaposition
- oppositeReverse or contrary thing
- inverseOpposite in position
- antonymWord with contrary meaning
- negationDenial or cancellation
counterpoint · converse · polarity · dichotomy · antipode · flip-side · reversal · contraposition
Verbal clash over differences
- debateFormal argument on issues
- disagreementAbsence of shared opinion
- contentionAssertion or rivalry
- quarrelAngry verbal dispute
controversy · dissension · discord · bickering · wrangle · disputation · squabble · clash
Self-contradicting phrase device
- paradoxSeemingly absurd truth
- enigmaSomething hard to fathom
- conundrumPerplexing problem or question
- antinomyContradiction between valid conclusions
absurdity · illogical · counterintuitive · self-refuting · impossible · puzzle · riddle · catch-22
incongruent
Not in harmony
- discordantLacking musical agreement
- conflictingIncompatible with each other
- irreconcilableImpossible to resolve together
discrepant · mismatched · incoherent · dissonant · incompatible · variable · erratic · unstable · unreliable · self-defeating
refutation
Disproving a statement
- rebuttalFormal response disputing claims
- negationDenial or cancellation
- disavowalRejection of connection
repudiation · rejection · dispute · challenge · counter-argument · objection · gainsaying · retort · counterstatement · disconfirmation
antithesis
Direct opposite; contrasting juxtaposition
negation · counterpoint · converse · polarity · dichotomy · antipode · flip-side · reversal · contraposition · counterbalance
dispute
Verbal clash over differences
- debateFormal argument on issues
- disagreementAbsence of shared opinion
- contentionAssertion or rivalry
quarrel · controversy · dissension · discord · bickering · wrangle · disputation · squabble · clash · cross-purposes
oxymoron
Self-contradicting phrase device
antinomy · absurdity · illogical · counterintuitive · self-refuting · impossible · puzzle · riddle · catch-22 · irony
- incompatibilityoil and water, chalk and cheese, apples and oranges, mismatch, clash
- strangenessodd, weird, strange, bizarre, peculiar
contradictoryconsistent
Not varying or contradicting
compatible · noncontradictory · coherent · reconcilable · congruent
contradictoryagreeing
Sharing the same view
confirmatory · confirming · affirming · corroborating · supportive
contradictoryagreeable
Pleasantly cooperative
cooperative · accommodating · compliant · acquiescent · conciliatory