Words / C1

kontr-uh-DIKT/ˌkɒntrəˈdɪkt/

To contradict is to say the opposite, or for two pieces of evidence not to match. Native writers use the findings contradict earlier work, or she contradicted him in the meeting. Deny is refuse to accept a charge (“I didn’t do it”); refute is prove a claim false. A contradiction is the noun.

Meaning

To say the opposite of what someone else has said, or to not match it.

Examples

• “The two reports contradict each other.”
• “His later email contradicted the minutes of the meeting.”
• “Nothing in the data contradicts the main hypothesis.”

Good to know

contradict a person / a claim. deny = reject an accusation. refute = disprove. Noun: contradiction.

New