contradicted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "contradicted" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a statement or belief that is opposed or denied by another statement or belief. Example: "His claims were contradicted by the evidence presented in the report."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The BBC press office's statement directly contradicted Khawaja's explanation of a prank, saying the accidental tweet had been linked to the training exercise.

The Guardian

If it means that it is now impossible to mobilise a majority for the redistribution of power and wealth, the inherent pessimism is contradicted by the evidence.

The Guardian - Opinion

It's a somewhat archaic view contradicted by the fact that many married couples choose not to have children, and many children are born outside marriage.

The Guardian

By the time the hearing was over, Adelson had argued with the judge, contradicted the evidence of his own executives and frustrated his lawyers by revealing more information than he was required to in response to simple yes or no questions.

The Guardian

Mbalula insisted the government had not contradicted itself after a leaked 2008 letter showed the then South African FA president, Molefi Oliphant, asking Valcke to send the $10m to Warner from South Africa's World Cup funds.

The Guardian - Sport

At the time, one army official in Swat, who spoke anonymously to the Guardian, contradicted the claims by several lawyers, insisting only two men had been convicted.

The Guardian

"I do think [Strauss] may have contradicted himself a little bit, in saying on one hand Kevin won't be playing at all this summer, effectively finishing his England career, but then offering Kevin an advisory role in one-day cricket.

The Guardian - Sport

His low opinion of himself as a player, which is strenuously contradicted by contemporaries, seems to stem from a reluctance to acknowledge that he was ever a raw young man.

The Guardian - Sport

Their enrolment addresses were found to have been contradicted by home addresses in other electorates, job and study locations, previous enrolment data, and profiles and output on social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, News Corp says.

The Guardian

He was at his best on arguing for us to stay in Europe, but his comment about wanting to be prime minister on his own somewhat contradicted his assertion that coalition was the way to go.

The Guardian - Opinion

Though he was somewhat contradicted by the team's directeur sportif, who admitted that his team had benefitted from Clarke's generosity.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "contradicted", ensure that there is clear evidence or reasoning to support the opposing viewpoint, rather than simply stating a difference of opinion.

Common error

Avoid using "contradicted" when you simply disagree with something. "Contradicted" implies a direct opposition of facts or evidence, not just a difference in opinion.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "contradicted" is as a past participle or past tense verb. It's used to indicate that a previous statement, claim, or piece of evidence has been shown to be false or inconsistent by presenting opposing information. As demonstrated by Ludwig AI, it denotes direct opposition.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

89%

Science

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "contradicted" functions as a past participle or past tense verb, primarily used to indicate that a statement or claim has been shown to be false or inconsistent by opposing evidence. As Ludwig AI has shown, the term is grammatically correct, frequently employed in various contexts, predominantly in news and media, and generally maintains a neutral register, suited for academic, professional, and informal use. Remember to use "contradicted" when there's an explicit opposition of facts or evidence rather than for a simple difference in opinion. Alternatives include "disagreed with", "opposed", and "disputed", each with unique nuances. By following this guide, you can confidently and accurately incorporate the term "contradicted" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

disagreed with

Represents a difference of opinion or a lack of agreement, often less forceful than "contradicted".

opposed

Implies active resistance or disapproval, potentially stronger than a simple contradiction.

disputed

Suggests questioning the validity or accuracy of something, rather than a direct contradiction.

challenged

Implies questioning or disputing a statement or idea, often with the intent to prove it wrong.

rebutted

Indicates a formal or structured response to an argument or claim, aiming to disprove it.

invalidated

Suggests proving something to be without legal or factual basis.

negated

Emphasizes the cancellation or denial of something, often in a more abstract or philosophical sense.

belied

Means to disguise or contradict, often unintentionally, revealing a hidden truth.

countered

Suggests responding to an argument or action with an opposing argument or action.

controverted

Denies or disputes the truth of (a statement or accusation).

FAQs

How can I use "contradicted" in a sentence?

Use "contradicted" when one statement or piece of evidence directly opposes another. For example, "The witness's testimony contradicted the defendant's alibi."

What can I say instead of "contradicted"?

You can use alternatives like "disagreed with", "opposed", or "disputed" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "contradicted" or "refuted"?

"Contradicted" implies a direct opposition, while "refuted" suggests successfully proving something wrong. The best choice depends on whether you are showing a contrast or demonstrating that a statement is false.

What's the difference between "contradicted" and "denied"?

"Denied" means to state that something is not true, while "contradicted" means to present evidence or arguments that show something is false. A claim can be denied without being directly contradicted, and vice versa.