Contradict means to say something that goes against what was said before.
Imagine you're playing a game where you take turns saying things about your favorite toy. If I say, "My toy is red," and then you say, "No, my toy is blue," you are contradicting me, because you’re saying something that doesn’t match what I said.
Like a disagreement in a story
Think of it like a story with two characters. One character says, "The cat is sleeping." The other character says, "No, the cat is running around." They are contradicting each other because they're giving different descriptions about the same thing, the cat!
Contradict happens when someone gives an answer or opinion that doesn’t match what was said before. It’s like saying “yes” to one question and then “no” to another, even though they’re connected.
So next time you hear someone say something surprising after a statement, remember: they might be contradicting the first part!
Examples
- When two people say opposite things at the same time, they are contradicting each other.
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See also
- What are premises and conclusions?
- How Does The Fallacy Fallacy | Idea Channel | PBS Digital Studios Work?
- What is claim?
- What is Statement vs. Fact?
- What is debate?