counterintuitive
adjective
coun·ter·in·tu·i·tive
ˌkau̇n-tər-in-ˈtü-ə-tiv 
-ˈtyü-
: contrary to what one would intuitively expect
As counterintuitive as it may seem, the universe has no center, and it has no boundary.—
Jim Bell
Jim BellExamples of counterintuitive in a Sentence
It may seem counterintuitive, but we do burn calories when we are sleeping.
Recent Examples on the Web
That finding might seem counterintuitive, given that progressives, historically, have taken pride in challenging authority.
—Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 7 Jan. 2025
Limiting activities to shorter bursts and rewarding consistency over output can seem counterintuitive at first, especially for high achievers.
—Sammy Rubin, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
What’s especially unusual is that interest rates have continued to rise despite the Fed’s cutting cycle, somewhat counterintuitive to investors’ expectations.
—Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 1 Jan. 2025
Why do some people live longer with hospice care?
Living longer after stopping cancer treatments and switching to hospice care may seem counterintuitive, experts note.
—Dr. Lindsey Ulin, ABC News, 31 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for counterintuitive 
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Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 7 Jan. 2025
Limiting activities to shorter bursts and rewarding consistency over output can seem counterintuitive at first, especially for high achievers.
—Sammy Rubin, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
What’s especially unusual is that interest rates have continued to rise despite the Fed’s cutting cycle, somewhat counterintuitive to investors’ expectations.
—Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 1 Jan. 2025
Why do some people live longer with hospice care?
Living longer after stopping cancer treatments and switching to hospice care may seem counterintuitive, experts note.
—Dr. Lindsey Ulin, ABC News, 31 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for counterintuitive
Dictionary Entries Near counterintuitive
Cite this Entry
“Counterintuitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterintuitive. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.
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