The results will not contradict the theory.
Source: tatoeba (238616)
Contradict
/ˌkɒn.tɹəˈdɪkt/
Synonyms for "contradict" (209 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (42)
Strong matches (63)
Adjective(1 words)
Noun(10 words)
conflicting goalsconflictsconfoundingconfrontingcounter evidencecounterclaimcounterevidencecounterpointcounterpointsdisagreeing
Related words (104)
falsifyfightfinishfloorforbidforsweargainsaygarblego againstgo counter tohear a different drummerignoreimpugninterfereinterfere withjanglejarjoin issue uponjostlejuxtapose in opposition
Show 68 more words
lock hornsmeet head onmeet head-onmilitate againstmismatchmismatenegatenegativenonplusnot acceptnot admitnullifyobjectoffsetopposeoppugnoverthrowoverturnoverwhelmparrypass bypass upplay at cross-purposespush asideput to silencerebuffrebutrecantreduce to silencerefuserefuse to admitrefuse to considerrefuterejectrenouncerepelrepudiaterepulseresistretractreverserevokerun againstrun counter toscoutset offsettleshove awayshut upsilencesmash all oppositionspurnsquashsquelchsubvertswim upstreamtake backtake issue withthrow awaythrow outtraverseturn awayturn outundermineupsetvarywaivework against
Noun(6 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: contravene, controvert, deny, dispute, oppose.
- Sentence evidence is available for contradict, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wiktionary, wordnet, opengloss, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "contradict".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "contradict"
Keep "contradict" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "contradict" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "contradict", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "contradict" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
16 entriesMore specific
7 entriesCollocations
6 entriesInflections
3 entriesDerivations
4 entriesTranslations
34 translations across 25 languages.
Breton
1 entries- dislavaret verb (deny the truth of statements made by (a person))
Bulgarian
1 entries- противореча verb (deny the truth of statements made by (a person))
Catalan
1 entries- contradir verb (deny the truth of statements made by (a person))
Danish
1 entries- modsige verb (deny the truth of statements made by (a person))
Dutch
1 entries- tegenspreken verb (deny the truth of statements made by (a person))
Finnish
1 entries- kiistää verb (deny the truth of statements made by (a person))
French
1 entries- contredire verb (deny the truth of statements made by (a person))
German
1 entries- widersprechen verb (deny the truth of statements made by (a person))
Hungarian
2 entries- ellentmond verb (deny the truth of statements made by (a person))
- vitába száll verb (deny the truth of statements made by (a person))
Italian
1 entries- contraddire verb (deny the truth of statements made by (a person))
Kazakh
1 entries- қарсы сөзге келу verb (deny the truth of statements made by (a person))
Latin
3 entries- adversor verb (deny the truth of statements made by (a person))
- contrādīcō verb (deny the truth of statements made by (a person))
- refrāgor verb (deny the truth of statements made by (a person))
Lithuanian
1 entries- prieštarauti verb (deny the truth of statements made by (a person))
Māori
2 entries- hoihoi verb (deny the truth of statements made by (a person))
- whakahorihori verb (deny the truth of statements made by (a person))
Norwegian Bokmål
1 entries- motsi verb (deny the truth of statements made by (a person))
Norwegian Nynorsk
2 entries- motseia verb (deny the truth of statements made by (a person))
- motseie verb (deny the truth of statements made by (a person))
Old English
1 entries- wiþcweþan verb (deny the truth of statements made by (a person))
Polish
2 entries- dementować verb (deny the truth of statements made by (a person))
- zaprzeczać verb (deny the truth of statements made by (a person))
Portuguese
2 entries- contradizer verb (deny the truth of statements made by (a person))
- desdizer verb (deny the truth of statements made by (a person))
Romanian
1 entries- contrazice verb (deny the truth of statements made by (a person))
Russian
2 entries- перечить verb (deny the truth of statements made by (a person))
- противоре́чить verb (deny the truth of statements made by (a person))
Spanish
1 entries- contradecir verb (deny the truth of statements made by (a person))
Swedish
2 entries- motsäga verb (deny the truth of statements made by (a person))
- säga emot verb (deny the truth of statements made by (a person))
Ukrainian
1 entries- заперечувати verb (deny the truth of statements made by (a person))
Vietnamese
1 entries- phủ nhận verb (deny the truth of statements made by (a person))
Sample sentences
28 total sentences available.
No one dares to contradict his employer for fear of being fired.
Source: tatoeba (266125)
Do I contradict myself? Very well, then I contradict myself, I am large, I contain multitudes!
Source: tatoeba (493044)
I cannot forbid a person to marry several wives, for it does not contradict Scripture.
Source: tatoeba (733854)
Showing 4 of 28 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "contradict"?
Closest matches include contravene, controvert, deny, dispute, oppose.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "contradict"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.