widersprochen

Widersprochen is the past participle form of the German verb widersprechen, meaning to contradict or to take issue with what someone has said. The verb generally expresses disagreement with a statement, argument, or claim rather than mere denial. It is commonly used in formal, written, or argumentative contexts.

Grammatical notes: widersprechen is a transitive verb that takes a dative recipient for the person being contradicted, and it typically condemns the content of the statement rather than a simple accusation. The standard construction is jemandem widersprechen, as in Ich widerspreche dir (I contradict you). In the perfect tense, the auxiliary is haben, yielding Der Minister hat dem Vorschlag widersprochen. The past participle is widersprochen, used with haben: hat widersprochen.

Usage and nuance: widersprechen signals a direct challenge to someone's assertion. It is similar to but not identical with bestreiten (to deny) or leugnen (to deny openly or attribute falsehood to something). Widersprechen can apply to factual claims, interpretations, or opinions, and may occur in political debates, academic discussions, or everyday conversation. The form is often avoided in colloquial speech in favor of simpler phrases, but it remains common in formal writing and reporting.

Related terms and concepts: noun form Widerspruch refers to the act or assertion of contradicting, or to a contradiction itself. Related verbs include bestreiten and leugnen, which emphasize denial rather than direct contradiction of a stated proposition.