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
The counterintuitive poll numbers above show that U.S. foreign aid has a major strategic communications problem.
—Kevin Sabet, Newsweek, 24 Mar. 2025
Nonetheless, understanding the complicated nuance—which in many ways is counterintuitive—is important to grappling with the opportunities to minimize emissions in the coming years.
—Justin Worland/houston, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025
Celebrate intelligent pivots Rather than celebrating a point of failure (which can feel counterintuitive), celebrate instead the point of change and pivots that emerge from productive failures.
—Michael Hudson, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
Toward the beginning of his book, Clapp describes a counterintuitive consequence of the landmark environmental laws passed in the United States in the 1970s.
—Scott W. Stern, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2025
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Kevin Sabet, Newsweek, 24 Mar. 2025
Nonetheless, understanding the complicated nuance—which in many ways is counterintuitive—is important to grappling with the opportunities to minimize emissions in the coming years.
—Justin Worland/houston, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025
Celebrate intelligent pivots Rather than celebrating a point of failure (which can feel counterintuitive), celebrate instead the point of change and pivots that emerge from productive failures.
—Michael Hudson, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
Toward the beginning of his book, Clapp describes a counterintuitive consequence of the landmark environmental laws passed in the United States in the 1970s.
—Scott W. Stern, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for counterintuitive
Cite this Entry
“Counterintuitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterintuitive. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.
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