Meanings
plural contradictions in terms
- A phrase or expression in which the component words contradict one another, often unintentionally, or are claimed to do so when seen from a particular point of view.
"A miniature giant" is a contradiction in terms.
Synonyms: oxymoron, contradictio in terminis
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA phrase or expression in which the component words contradict one another, often unintentionally, or are claimed to do so when seen from a particular point of view.
More synonyms by meaning
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Translations
Chinese Mandarin 自相矛盾的說法 /自相矛盾的说法
- 自相矛盾的說法 /自相矛盾的说法 (zìxiāngmáodùn de shuōfǎ)expression in which components contradict one another
Czech protimluv
- protimluvexpression in which components contradict one another
Danish selvmodsigelse
- selvmodsigelseexpression in which components contradict one another
Dutch contradictie, tegenspraak
- contradictieexpression in which components contradict one another
- tegenspraakexpression in which components contradict one another
Esperanto oksimoro
- oksimoroexpression in which components contradict one another
Finnish sanonnan ristiriitaisuus, mahdottomuus
- sanonnan ristiriitaisuusexpression in which components contradict one another
- mahdottomuusexpression in which components contradict one another
- mahdoton ajatusexpression in which components contradict one another
French contradiction
- contradictionexpression in which components contradict one another
German Widerspruch in sich
- Widerspruch in sichexpression in which components contradict one another
Hungarian önellentmondás, fából vaskarika
- önellentmondásexpression in which components contradict one another
- fából vaskarikaexpression in which components contradict one another
Icelandic augljós mótsögn í hugtökum
- augljós mótsögn í hugtökumexpression in which components contradict one another
Italian contraddizione, ossimoro
- contraddizioneexpression in which components contradict one another
- ossimoroexpression in which components contradict one another
Latin contradictiō in terminīs, contradictiō in adjectō
- contradictiō in terminīsexpression in which components contradict one another
- contradictiō in adjectōexpression in which components contradict one another
Polish oksymoron
- oksymoronexpression in which components contradict one another
Portuguese contradição em termos
- contradição em termosexpression in which components contradict one another
Romanian contradicție (frazeologică)
- contradicție (frazeologică)expression in which components contradict one another
Russian логи́ческая несообра́зность, противоре́чие
- логи́ческая несообра́зность (logíčeskaja nesoobráznostʹ)expression in which components contradict one another
- противоре́чие (protivoréčije)expression in which components contradict one another
Spanish contradicción en los términos
- contradicción en los términosexpression in which components contradict one another
Swedish självmotsägelse
- självmotsägelseexpression in which components contradict one another
Cite this entry
contradiction in terms. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/contradiction%20in%20terms
“contradiction in terms.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/contradiction%20in%20terms. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “contradiction in terms,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/contradiction%20in%20terms.
Source: contradiction in terms on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.