counterintuitively

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "counterintuitively" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a situation or outcome that is contrary to what one would expect or intuitively believe. Example: "Counterintuitively, the results showed that increasing the price led to higher sales."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Counterintuitively, by following her advice, rather than worrying about commercial success, I found my idea.

The Guardian

Mike Selvey, a former England player turned pundit, argues that, counterintuitively, helmets may actually be making batsmen less safe.

The Economist

Rather counterintuitively, government approval ratings, which had been sliding since the start of the year, actually edged up in August.Markets, for their part, saw the release of second-quarter GDP figures as raising the chances of a victory by the opposition and are hopeful that a new president would implement a more responsible economic policy.

The Economist

(Counterintuitively, deep-green areas yield poor wine: since they are so fertile, the vine produces weak grapes in high volumes rather than smaller quantities of concentrated fruit).

The Economist

Counterintuitively, Ms Sandberg argues that a woman's most important career decision is whom she marries.

The Economist

The fact that it has not is, counterintuitively, a bad sign.

The Economist

It looks, counterintuitively, as though evolution is somehow favouring the spread of a chronic disease.Which it probably is, but not because arthritis is somehow good for rhinos.

The Economist

And perhaps the agony of capitalism will counterintuitively benefit parties of the right.Or, as in the 1930s, the results may be radical and dramatic, which in Britain might mean the revival and electoral resurgence of an old-fashioned interventionist Labour Party.

The Economist

Ms Elberse uses case studies from the film, television, music and sporting worlds to argue that, counterintuitively, "the idea of smaller bets being 'safer' is a myth".

The Economist

Perhaps counterintuitively, the long, drawn out primary may have helped Democrats by leaving activists without a target against whom to mobilise:"We spent 18 months and millions of dollars making 'Hillary The Movie,'" laments David Bossie, head of Citizens United and a longtime Clinton tormentor.

The Economist

Counterintuitively, he bought a firm in the west, a builder of clean rooms and other industrial facilities, to give Jenoptik a western face and the cash flow to develop its photonics business.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "counterintuitively" to introduce a statement that defies common sense or widely held beliefs. This adds emphasis and encourages the reader to reconsider their initial assumptions.

Common error

Avoid using "counterintuitively" simply to sound sophisticated. Ensure the statement genuinely contradicts intuition, or it will weaken your writing.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "counterintuitively" functions as a discourse marker, signaling that the following statement is contrary to expectations. It modifies the entire clause, not a specific word. As Ludwig AI confirms, it correctly introduces surprising or paradoxical information.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Science

4%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adverb "counterintuitively" is a powerful tool for introducing ideas that challenge common assumptions. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and frequently used in various written contexts. Primarily found in news and media, "counterintuitively" prepares the reader for a statement that runs contrary to expectation. When writing, ensure that the use of "counterintuitively" is genuine and not just a stylistic flourish. Alternatives such as "paradoxically" or "surprisingly" can be used depending on the specific nuance. Understanding its function and purpose enhances clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Contrary to what one might expect

Explicitly contrasts the statement with common expectations, making the deviation more pronounced.

Paradoxically

Emphasizes the contradictory nature of the statement, highlighting its deviation from logical expectation.

Surprisingly

Focuses on the element of surprise associated with the statement, indicating an unexpected outcome.

Unexpectedly

Highlights the lack of anticipation or predictability in the statement.

In an unexpected twist

Adds a narrative element, suggesting a deviation from the expected storyline or sequence of events.

Against the grain

Implies that the statement goes against established norms or conventions.

In contrast to expectations

Highlights the differences against expectations

Deviating from expectations

Highlights that something goes against general expectations

In defiance of expectation

Highlights a situation that goes against expectations in a bold or even aggressive way

In an ironic twist

Highlights a situation that ends up in an odd or negatively surprising way

FAQs

How can I use "counterintuitively" in a sentence?

Use "counterintuitively" to introduce a statement that goes against what one would normally expect. For example, "Counterintuitively, increasing prices can sometimes lead to higher sales."

What does "counterintuitively" mean?

"Counterintuitively" means in a way that is contrary to what intuition or common sense would suggest.

What can I say instead of "counterintuitively"?

You can use alternatives like "paradoxically", "surprisingly", or "unexpectedly" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "counterintuitively, but..."?

It can be redundant, as "counterintuitively" already implies a contrast. Consider whether the "but" is necessary to further emphasize the contrast or clarify the relationship between the ideas.