was contradicted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was contradicted" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that a statement or claim has been opposed or denied by someone or something else. Example: "His earlier assertion was contradicted by the evidence presented in the report."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

But this picture was contradicted dramatically by his ex-girlfriend.

The Guardian

But his account was contradicted by a police spokesman, Maj.

The New York Times

This was contradicted by other officials, who dropped hints of an eventual attack.

The Economist

The notion that players adapt to the league they are in was contradicted.

The New York Times - Sports

That account, however, was contradicted by messages posted in General Dostum's Twitter feed after the clash.

The New York Times

But this was contradicted by a second and third pathologist, the inquest heard.

The Guardian

An initial police version of events was contradicted by CCTV footage.

The Guardian - Opinion

That opinion was contradicted by Mr. Butterworth, who called the recount legal.

The New York Times

The lawyers also said the state crime lab's early DNA testing was erroneous and was contradicted by independent experts.

The New York Times

That was contradicted in the second trial by the claim they stole much of that same oil.

The Economist

The French leader denied there had been any direct clash, but his account was contradicted by other leaders and diplomats.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was contradicted" when you want to emphasize that a statement or claim has been directly opposed by evidence or another statement. Ensure the subject making the contradiction is clear to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "was contradicted" when you simply mean there was a difference of opinion. "Contradicted" implies a direct opposition of facts, not just a differing viewpoint. If it's merely a matter of opinion, phrases like "was disagreed with" are more accurate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was contradicted" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that a statement or claim has been shown to be false or inconsistent by opposing evidence or statements. As shown by Ludwig, this construction is commonly used in various contexts to highlight discrepancies.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

27%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was contradicted" is a grammatically sound passive voice construction used to indicate that a statement or claim has been proven false or inconsistent, as validated by Ludwig. It's frequently employed in News & Media and Science contexts to highlight conflicting accounts or evidence. While "was contradicted" is considered correct and common, it's important to differentiate it from simple disagreement. Alternative phrases such as "was refuted" or "was challenged" may offer more precise meanings depending on the context. Using "was contradicted" effectively enhances clarity and precision in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was refuted

Implies a successful act of proving something wrong, often through evidence.

was disproved

Suggests that something has been definitively proven false.

was challenged

Indicates that something was questioned or opposed, but not necessarily proven wrong.

was invalidated

Implies that something lost its validity or legal force.

was denied

Indicates a simple refusal to accept something as true.

was opposed

Suggests resistance or disagreement with something.

was countered

Implies that a statement or action was met with an opposing statement or action.

was disagreed with

Indicates a difference of opinion.

was brought into question

Suggests that doubts were raised about something.

was in conflict with

Indicates a direct opposition or incompatibility.

FAQs

How to use "was contradicted" in a sentence?

Use "was contradicted" to indicate that a statement or piece of evidence directly opposes a previous claim. For example, "His testimony "was contradicted" by the surveillance footage."

What can I say instead of "was contradicted"?

You can use alternatives like "was refuted", "was disproved", or "was challenged" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "was contradicted by" or "contradicted"?

"Was contradicted by" is a passive construction, emphasizing what opposed the original statement. "Contradicted" is active, emphasizing what or who did the opposing. Both are grammatically correct, but the choice depends on the desired emphasis. Example: "The witness "contradicted" the initial report" vs. "The initial report "was contradicted" by the witness."

What's the difference between "was contradicted" and "was questioned"?

"Was contradicted" implies a direct opposition, often with evidence. "Was questioned" simply means that doubts were raised, but not necessarily disproven. For example, a theory might "was questioned" by scientists, but only later "was contradicted" by experimental results.