contradicted

Contradicted is the past tense and past participle of the verb contradict. To contradict means to assert the opposite of a statement or claim, to deny the truth of something, or to be inconsistent with something else. The word derives from Latin contra, meaning against, and dicere, meaning to say.

In everyday language, a claim can be contradicted by evidence or testimony, leading to the claim being considered untrue or doubtful. In scientific contexts, a hypothesis is contradicted when data yield results incompatible with the prediction. In logic and philosophy, a proposition is contradicted by its negation, creating a direct opposition between statements. In journalism and law, statements are contradicted when records, witnesses, or documents refute them.

Contradicted is often used in passive constructions, as in The theory was contradicted by recent experiments. It can be close in meaning to refuted, although contradicted emphasizes opposition between statements rather than the strength of supporting evidence; disputed or denied are related terms with subtle distinctions in tone and certainty.

Common collocations include contradicted by, contradicted with evidence, and mutually contradicted, describing situations where two propositions cannot both be true. The term is versatile across disciplines but consistently signals a challenge to the truth or consistency of a claim.

See also: contradiction; contradict; refutation; evidence.