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Definition of "counterintuitive" [counterintuitive]

  • Contrary to what intuition or common sense would indicate: "Scientists made clear what may at first seem counterintuitive, that the capacity to be pleasant toward a fellow creature is ... hard work” ( Natalie Angier). (adjective)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "counterintuitive" in a sentence
  • "Henson last week took responsibility for the calls but said the message was "counterintuitive" -- that the calls were actually intended to motivate Ehrlich supporters to vote in the final hours before the polls closed."
  • "In this context, being "counterintuitive" -- especially when one is doing so well outside of the traditional channels of scientific discourse -- usually amounts to little more than being just plain wrong."
  • "In a way, the name was counterintuitive, because Google wanted to strip off a lot of the decorative chrome seen in other browsers and create a sleek sports car of a browser."