contradict

/ˌkɒn.tɹəˈdɪkt/

//ˌkɒn.tɹəˈdɪkt// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"contradict" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“contradict” has 16 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #18,280. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#18,280
frequency rank, English
5,599
“C” headwords
16
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To deny the truth or validity of (a statement or statements).

Corpus desk

Index EN-contradict · contradict · English

contradict · rank #18,280 · 16 variants · 1 confusable

  • FREQ-MID #18,280
  • LEN-MEGA 10 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-LOW 1 pairs
  • VAR-HIGH 16 variants
  • BOOK-DENSE 5,599
  • PHOTO-FINISH continual

Nearest frequency peer: continual (-1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “contradict”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “contradict” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

contradict vs contract
80% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for contradict
PropertyValue
Headwordcontradict
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˌkɒn.tɹəˈdɪkt/
Letters10
Frequency rank#18,280
Misspellings tracked16
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “contradict”

This scale runs from the tiny cluster of words that carry ordinary speech (left) to the long tail of words almost nobody reaches for (right).contradictlands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Ticks step logarithmically, so each one marks a roughly tenfold drop in how often the word turns up. Same rarity band neighbours include “continual” (#18,279), “cords” (#18,281), “Constantine” (#18,278). Among 5,599 “C” headwords, “contradict” is #18,280. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 16 spelling variants around contradict (IPA /ˌkɒn.tɹəˈdɪkt/), averb. Corpus frequency is #18,280 among 5,599 “C” headwords. Wiktionary lists 7 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 16 likely wrong-spelling variants for contradict, with forms such as "ccontradict", "cnotradict", and "conntradict". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 1 confusable-pair relationship, "contract", a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: Derived from Latin contrādictus (“contradicted”), the past participle of contrādīcō (“speak against”) (originally two words). The correct English form is contradict, spelled C-O-N-T-R-A-D-I-C-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    To deny the truth or validity of (a statement or statements).
  2. 2
    To oppose (a person) by denying the truth or pertinence of a given statement.
  3. 3
    To be contrary to (something).
  4. 4
    To say things that conflict with each other.
  5. 5
    To give an order contrary to (another order or wish), oppose (something).
  6. 6
    To give an order contrary to one given by (another person), oppose or resist (someone).
  7. 7
    To speak against; to forbid.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how contradict appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. His testimony contradicts hers.
  2. 1651, Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan, London: Andrew Crooke, Chapter 42 “Of Power Ecclesiasticall,” p. 270, […] the Ministers of Christ in this world, have no Power by that title, to Punish any man for not Beleeving, or for Contradicting what they say;

Etymology

Derived from Latin contrādictus (“contradicted”), the past participle of contrādīcō (“speak against”) (originally two words).

Synonyms

contravenedisconfirmdenydisputequestiongainsayrefutecontrovertwithspeak

This word in other languages

contradecir(Español)contredire(Français)widersprechen(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • ccontradict
  • cnotradict
  • conntradict
  • conrtadict
  • contardict
  • contradcit
  • contraddict
  • contradicct
  • contradictt
  • contraditc
  • contraidct
  • contrdaict
  • contrradict
  • conttradict
  • cotnradict
  • ocntradict

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of contradict - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

ccontradict1cnotradict2conntradict1conrtadict2contardict2contradcit2contraddict1contradicct1
Edit distance from "contradict"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "contradict"?
"contradict" is spelled C-O-N-T-R-A-D-I-C-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ˌkɒn.tɹəˈdɪkt/.
What does "contradict" mean?
As a verb, "contradict" means: To deny the truth or validity of (a statement or statements).
What words are commonly confused with "contradict"?
"contradict" is commonly confused with "contract". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "contradict"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "contradict" is /ˌkɒn.tɹəˈdɪkt/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "contradict"?
Derived from Latin contrādictus (“contradicted”), the past participle of contrādīcō (“speak against”) (originally two words). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "contradict", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 10 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

conjecture#18,276compounded#18,274fourteenth#18,313wastewater#18,216

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (16 here; floor ≥5).

conspicuous16 variantswithholding16 variantsillumination16 variantsimproperly16 variants

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list