CONTRADICTING Synonyms: 100 Similar and Opposite Words

contradicting 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of contradicting

as in contradictory

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Dissimilar Words

contradicting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of contradict

as in refuting

to make an assertion that is contrary to one made by (another) no matter what I say, you always have to contradict me

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in denying

to declare not to be true his account contradicted the story that they had gotten earlier

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of contradicting

Adjective

Also corrosive — the contradicting and quick-changing statements. — Steven T. Dennis, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2025

Verb

Finally, leaders who have inconsistent messaging—giving one instruction today and contradicting it tomorrow—create confusion, frustration and uncertainty. — Don Weber, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 But only states have the power to put these proposals into practice—and many state policy makers, concerned that the White House is contradicting existing research, aren’t keen to follow its guidance. — Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2026 The hosts provided no evidence of political coordination, compensation from conservative groups or private statements contradicting Cunningham’s public position. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2026 Republicans on the committee accused Fauci of privately contradicting his public advocacy in his diary entries, while Democrats said he was being scapegoated in a partisan inquiry relitigating events that happened years ago. — Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 30 July 2026 Some of the office's answers confirmed parts of our reporting rather than contradicting them. — July 29, CBS News, 29 July 2026 Witnesses later shared videos contradicting DHS’ claims, including that Pretti was holding a phone, not a gun, in the moments before the killing. — Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026 In each killing, witnesses and video evidence have shown a more nuanced picture, at times contradicting official claims. — Cindy Carcamo, Christian Science Monitor, 22 July 2026 In another discrepancy, Crump said that a witness reported Wells had planned to leave on the boat with his friends, contradicting the sheriff's theory. — ABC News, 11 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for contradicting

Adjective

How’s an architect supposed to address these overlapping and contradictory rubrics, much less resolve them?

— Justin Davidson, Curbed, 2 Sep. 2026
Žižek’s hot takes and critical interpretations, on cinema and philosophy, are often counter-intuitive and seemingly contradictory, but never boring.

— Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of contradictory

Verb

The film follows a daughter trying to accompany her mother through her final stage, navigating the challenge of remaining close without denying the loss or imposing a particular way of experiencing it.

— Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026
Ridley Scott’s representatives are denying the recent report that the director blamed his Gladiator II star Paul Mescal for the film’s underwhelming box office numbers.

— Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of denying

Adjective

El Niño and La Niña are opposite phases of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, or ENSO, one of the most powerful naturally occurring climate patterns on Earth, the WMO said.

— Doyle Rice, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026
For more even distribution, apply half of the seed in one direction (for example, north-south) and the other half in the opposite direction (east-west).

— Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of opposite

Verb

His government has consistently avoided criticizing Morocco, but Sánchez condemned comments from two Moroccan ministers questioning the sovereignty of Ceuta and Melilla, another Spain's other territory in North Africa.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
But the design quickly sparked backlash and support online, with some applauding the farm's call for civil discourse and others questioning why Kirk was chosen as the face of one of the attraction's biggest annual draws.

— Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of questioning

Adjective

Ella Stiller is their ingenuous aide-de-camp, Busy Philipps a flamboyant investor and Renée Elise Goldsberry as an opposing counsel who has history with Colter.

— Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Georgia is eager to see someone else on the opposing sidelines after going against itself for much of the past month during preseason practices.

— Connor Riley, AJC.com, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of opposing

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“Contradicting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contradicting. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of contradicting

adjective

verb

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