counterintuitive
Against gut instinct
Counterintuitive describes something that contradicts what common sense or gut feeling would suggest.
A counterintuitive finding surprises because it opposes expectations: It's counterintuitive, but adding lanes to highways can actually increase traffic.
Scientific research often yields counterintuitive results that challenge everyday assumptions.
Having fine distinctions
- subtleNot immediately obvious
- nonlinearNot in sequence
- sophisticatedWorldly and cultured
- nonobviousNot readily apparent
Opposing claims, incompatible together
- ironyMeaning opposite to words
- anomalyDeparture from the expected
- oxymoronSelf-contradicting phrase device
- incongruityLack of harmony
reversal · twist · dichotomy · inversion · counterexample · backfire · contrary · antithesis
Not anticipated beforehand
- astonishingCausing great wonder
- startlingCausing sudden surprise
- unforeseenNot predicted or expected
- unanticipatedNot predicted beforehand
eye-opening · mind-boggling · confounding · improbable · unlikely · remarkable · striking · double-take
Causing false beliefs
- illusionMisleading sensory impression
- fallacyError in reasoning
- misconceptionErroneous belief or understanding
- surface-levelConcerning only the outermost layer
apparent · ostensible · belies
nuanced
Having fine distinctions
- subtleNot immediately obvious
- nonlinearNot in sequence
- sophisticatedWorldly and cultured
nonobvious · second-order · emergent · indirect · interdependent
contradiction
Opposing claims, incompatible together
- ironyMeaning opposite to words
- anomalyDeparture from the expected
- oxymoronSelf-contradicting phrase device
incongruity · reversal · twist · dichotomy · inversion · counterexample · backfire · contrary · antithesis · juxtaposition
unexpected
Not anticipated beforehand
- astonishingCausing great wonder
- startlingCausing sudden surprise
- unforeseenNot predicted or expected
unanticipated · eye-opening · mind-boggling · confounding · improbable · unlikely · remarkable · striking · double-take · revelation
misleading
Causing false beliefs
- illusionMisleading sensory impression
- fallacyError in reasoning
- misconceptionErroneous belief or understanding
counterintuitiveintuitive
Known without reasoning
obvious · self-evident · predictable · commonsensical · expected
counterintuitivetransparent
Allowing light through
plain · intuitive · self-explanatory · apparent · evident
intuition, intuitive, intuit, intuitively, intuits, intuitions, intuitiveness, intuited, intuitionism