counterintuitive

adjective

coun·​ter·​in·​tu·​i·​tive ˌkau̇n-tər-in-ˈtü-ə-tiv How to pronounce counterintuitive (audio)
-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
counterintuitively
ˌkau̇n-tər-in-ˈtü-ə-tiv-lē How to pronounce counterintuitive (audio)
-ˈtyü-
adverb

Examples of counterintuitive in a Sentence

It may seem counterintuitive, but we do burn calories when we are sleeping.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
On paper, the price of two firsts, plus, may seem counterintuitive for the Rangers. — Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 27 June 2026 The counterintuitive part is that the stronger your company gets, the more dangerous its position. — Kyle Westaway, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 In some states, the restrictions seemed counterintuitive, advocates said. — Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 23 June 2026 His theory appears to explain some counterintuitive findings. — Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for counterintuitive

Word History

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of counterintuitive was in 1955

Rhymes for counterintuitive

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Browse Nearby Words

counterinterpretation
counterintuitive
counterinvasion
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Cite this Entry

“Counterintuitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterintuitive. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on counterintuitive

Nglish: Translation of counterintuitive for Spanish Speakers

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