contradictory statement

USAGE SUMMARY

"contradictory statement" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when two statements appear to be in conflict with each other. For example, "He said he was coming home tonight, but now he says he won't be here until tomorrow - that's a contradictory statement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

But each definition comes with a modifying, even contradictory statement.

The New York Times - Arts

His 4am tweets then continued with the contradictory statement that he would be here "forever".

Independent

In an apparently contradictory statement, he also said the shooting occurred when a routine police patrol had been ambushed.

The New York Times

A local official in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, gave a contradictory statement, saying there was no evidence to link the two men to ETIM.

The New York Times - Sports

Some subjects were so persuaded by the vividness of their years-old memory that they refused to accept the evidence of their own, contradictory statement made a few days after the event.

The New Yorker

To say the least, here was a fairly puzzling and even contradictory statement about where the world's leading exporting nation — and one of the countries most profoundly hit by the recession — saw its future.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

There were contradictory statements.

The New York Times - Arts

And contradictory statements, stated in the right way, are funny.

The New Yorker

Dadis reacted with a series of defensive and contradictory statements.

The New Yorker

Mayweather has put out contradictory statements about his future.

The Guardian - Sport

What are we to make of these contradictory statements?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "contradictory statement" when you want to emphasize a direct conflict between two assertions made by the same person or source.

Common error

Don't use "contradictory statement" simply to describe something false. A "contradictory statement" involves a clash between two statements. Something untrue but not self-opposing is merely inaccurate or incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "contradictory statement" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "contradictory" modifies the noun "statement". It describes a specific type of statement that contains conflicting information. Ludwig AI validates this usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "contradictory statement" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe an assertion that clashes with another. Ludwig AI affirms its proper usage, noting its prevalence in diverse fields like news reporting and scientific studies. When employing this term, ensure a genuine conflict exists between statements, differentiating it from mere inaccuracy. For enhanced expression, consider synonyms such as "conflicting assertion" or "inconsistent declaration", but remember nuanced differences. The phrase is used to point out logical inconsistencies and is mainly seen in news, science, and business contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

self-contradictory claim

This directly points out that the statement contains elements that negate each other.

conflicting assertion

This alternative replaces 'statement' with 'assertion', implying a strong declaration that clashes with another.

inconsistent declaration

Using 'declaration' instead of 'statement' suggests a formal announcement that doesn't align with previous ones.

paradoxical remark

This emphasizes the self-contradictory nature of the statement, highlighting its seemingly absurd quality.

logically inconsistent argument

Focuses on the flaw in reasoning within the statement, where the conclusion doesn't follow from the premises.

conflicting account

Emphasizes that the report or narrative clashes with other reports of the same event.

opposing viewpoint

This highlights the difference in perspective rather than the direct contradiction within a single statement.

irreconcilable narrative

This suggests that the story being told is impossible to align with other established facts or stories.

ambiguous pronouncement

Highlights the lack of clarity, making it open to multiple interpretations which may conflict with each other.

mutually exclusive positions

This alternative speaks of positions or stances that cannot coexist or be true at the same time.

FAQs

How can I use "contradictory statement" in a sentence?

You can use "contradictory statement" to describe a situation where someone has said two things that cannot both be true. For example, "The witness made a "contradictory statement" about the time of the incident".

What is a synonym for "contradictory statement"?

Synonyms for "contradictory statement" include "conflicting assertion", "inconsistent declaration", and "self-contradictory claim".

What's the difference between "contradictory statement" and "false statement"?

A "contradictory statement" involves two or more statements that cannot both be true, whereas a "false statement" is simply an untrue assertion, even if it doesn't contradict any other statement.

Is it better to say "contradictory statement" or "contradictory statements"?

Use "contradictory statement" when referring to a single instance of contradiction. Use "contradictory statements" when referring to multiple instances or a pattern of conflicting assertions.