mutually contradictory

USAGE SUMMARY

"mutually contradictory" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to two ideas or statements that are unable to both be true at the same time. For example: "The two statements are mutually contradictory, as one claims that the event happened on Saturday and the other claims that it happened on Sunday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The verdict is mutually contradictory.

The Guardian

Their accounts of what they see are often mutually contradictory.

The Guardian - Books

Does it follow that brevity and well-balanced history are mutually contradictory?

The New York Times - Books

Street photography and monumentality would seem to be mutually contradictory, but in his art they coexist.

The New York Times

In effect, Buchanan's book fuses together two mutually contradictory strands of nationalist history.

The Guardian - Opinion

The sources were gappy, mutually contradictory, and fantastically suggestive rather than full.

The New Yorker

You might ask, how is it possible to take such mutually contradictory positions?

The New York Times

The administration has offered many different explanations, some of them mutually contradictory, for its determination to occupy Baghdad.

The New York Times

Through a truly Orwellian exercise in doublethink -- the art of believing two mutually contradictory things at the same time.

The New York Times

In remaking the old Hudson Hotel, the team has encoded multiple, mutually contradictory statements into the restaurant, or "restaurant".

The New York Times - Food

Or maybe it was displaying a newfound and welcome willingness to countenance rival and mutually contradictory views.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "mutually contradictory" to clearly indicate that two or more statements, ideas, or beliefs cannot be simultaneously true. This helps to highlight logical inconsistencies.

Common error

Avoid using "mutually contradictory" when describing mere differences in opinion or preference. This term should be reserved for situations where a logical impossibility exists if both statements are true.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mutually contradictory" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying nouns to indicate that two or more elements cannot logically coexist or be simultaneously true. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in diverse contexts, highlighting its role in pinpointing logical inconsistencies.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

36%

Encyclopedias

9%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

4%

Huffington Post

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "mutually contradictory" is a versatile adjective phrase used to denote logical impossibilities between two or more elements. According to Ludwig AI, its grammatical status is correct and its frequency is very common, particularly in news, science, and encyclopedic contexts. When using this phrase, it is important to ensure that the elements truly negate each other, rather than simply representing differences in opinion. For alternative expressions consider "mutually inconsistent" or "mutually conflicting".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mutually inconsistent

Highlights the lack of logical agreement between two or more things.

mutually conflicting

Emphasizes the clashing or opposing nature of two or more things.

mutually exclusive

Focuses on the inability of two or more things to coexist or occur simultaneously.

irreconcilable differences

Indicates differences so deep they cannot be resolved.

incompatible elements

Stresses the unsuitability of two or more things to exist together harmoniously.

opposing viewpoints

Points out the conflicting perspectives or opinions.

diametrically opposed

Emphasizes the complete opposition between two things.

at odds with each other

Highlights the disagreement or conflict between two or more things.

logically inconsistent

Focuses on the lack of logical coherence or agreement.

self-contradictory

Describes something that contains internal inconsistencies.

FAQs

How do I use "mutually contradictory" in a sentence?

Use "mutually contradictory" to describe situations where two or more statements or ideas cannot both be true. For example, "The witnesses provided "mutually contradictory" accounts of the incident."

What's a simpler way to say "mutually contradictory"?

Depending on the context, you can use simpler alternatives such as "conflicting", "inconsistent", or "opposing".

Which is correct: "mutually contradictory" or "mutually conflicting"?

Both "mutually contradictory" and "mutually conflicting" are correct and can be used interchangeably in many contexts. However, "mutually contradictory" specifically implies a logical impossibility, while "mutually conflicting" can refer to a broader range of disagreements.

What's the difference between "mutually contradictory" and "mutually exclusive"?

"Mutually contradictory" means that two or more statements cannot both be true. "Mutually exclusive" means that two or more events or categories cannot occur or exist at the same time. While related, they apply to different contexts.