flatly contradict

USAGE SUMMARY

"flatly contradict" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used when one statement is in direct opposition with another statement. For example: "The witness gave two conflicting accounts of the incident, one in which the suspect was implicated, and the other which flatly contradict the first."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

The data flatly contradict this statement.

The Economist

That measure, if it holds up in court, would flatly contradict Mr Bush's voluntarist approach.

The Economist

Justice Sotomayor, in her dissent, said "these principles flatly contradict" earlier decisions from the court.

The New York Times

The following day Mukhamed Tsikhanov, the deputy economy minister responsible for Kyoto, seemed to flatly contradict Mr Illarionov.

The Economist

In recent weeks several Tory ministers have made statements that second-guess or flatly contradict government policy.

The Economist

The memos flatly contradict al-Jazeera's insistence that it is editorially independent despite being heavily subsidised by the Gulf state.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

His stance is flatly contradicted today".

The Guardian - Opinion

The best empirical evidence flatly contradicts that claim.

The Economist

"The new opinion flatly contradicts the first one in several places," Mr. Bright said.

The New York Times

Nobody in the coalition wants to restart their earlier in-fighting by flatly contradicting her.

The Economist

Reducing the idea to numbers, indeed, flatly contradicts the Court's position on quotas.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "flatly contradict" to emphasize a direct and irreconcilable conflict between two statements or pieces of evidence. This is most effective when the contradiction is clear and unambiguous.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "flatly contradict" is more suited to formal writing. In casual conversation, simpler phrases like "totally disagree" or "completely wrong" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "flatly contradict" functions as a verb phrase used to express a strong disagreement or direct opposition between two statements or pieces of information. As confirmed by Ludwig, it effectively conveys a complete lack of alignment.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "flatly contradict" is a grammatically sound and commonly used verb phrase that expresses a direct and complete opposition between two statements, a claim supported by Ludwig. Predominantly found in formal contexts such as News & Media and Formal & Business publications, it serves to emphasize the irreconcilable nature of conflicting information. While effective for highlighting clear contradictions, it may be less suitable for informal conversations where simpler alternatives might be more appropriate. The related phrases, such as "directly oppose" or "utterly refute", offer nuanced alternatives depending on the desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

directly oppose

Replaces "flatly contradict" with a more straightforward expression of opposition.

utterly refute

Emphasizes a complete and decisive rejection of a statement.

blatantly negate

Highlights the obvious and undeniable nature of the contradiction.

squarely conflict with

Indicates a head-on collision or disagreement between two things.

be in direct opposition to

Uses a more formal and verbose structure to express contradiction.

give the lie to

Implies that something exposes another thing as false.

prove false

Simplifies the contradiction to a basic statement of falsehood.

stand in stark contrast to

Focuses on the strong difference and incompatibility between two things.

be at odds with

Suggests a fundamental disagreement or incompatibility.

fly in the face of

Implies a bold and defiant contradiction of something widely accepted.

FAQs

How to use "flatly contradict" in a sentence?

Use "flatly contradict" to indicate a direct and undeniable opposition between two statements or pieces of information. For example: "The new evidence "flatly contradicts" the witness's earlier testimony."

What can I say instead of "flatly contradict"?

You can use alternatives like "directly oppose", "utterly refute", or "blatantly negate" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "flatly contradict" or "flatly contradicts"?

"Flatly contradict" is used with plural subjects or in the infinitive form. "Flatly contradicts" is used with singular subjects in the present tense. For example: "They "flatly contradict" each other," but "His statement "flatly contradicts" the facts."

What's the difference between "flatly contradict" and "partially contradict"?

"Flatly contradict" means a complete and direct opposition, while "partially contradict" implies that there are some areas of agreement but also some points of disagreement.