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

counterintuitively

ˌkau̇n-tər-in-ˈtü-ə-tiv-lē 

-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

But the device is marred by a few irritating quirks: holes on top that allow grit in the water chamber, and an odd and counterintuitive lid that sometimes ends up backwards. —Matthew Korfhage, WIRED, 6 Dec. 2024

Eliminating thirst thus becomes a counterintuitive way to stay alive, even when the squirrels could desperately use a drink. —Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 28 Nov. 2024

This is counterintuitive to be sure, but still very true. —Dennis C. McAndrews, Baltimore Sun, 27 Nov. 2024

That result may seem counterintuitive, given that most Americans see climate change as a threat and believe human actions are the cause of it. —Stephanie Hanes, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined above