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Complementary vs Contradictory - What's the difference?

complementary | contradictory |

As adjectives the difference between complementary and contradictory

is that complementary is acting as a complement while contradictory is that contradicts something, such as an argument.

As nouns the difference between complementary and contradictory

is that complementary is a complementary colour while contradictory is any of a pair of propositions, that cannot both be true or both be false.

complementary

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Acting as a complement.
  • *
  • Using the terminology we intro-
    duced earlier, we might then say that black and white squares are in comple-
    mentary
    distribution on a chess-board. By this we mean two things: firstly,
    black squares and white squares occupy different positions on the board: and
    secondly, the black and white squares complement each other in the sense that
    the black squares together with the white squares comprise the total set of 64
    squares found on the board (i.e. there is no square on the board which is not
    either black or white).
  • (genetics) Of the specific pairings of the bases in DNA and RNA.
  • (physics) Pertaining to pairs of properties in quantum mechanics that are inversely related to each other, such as speed and position, or energy and time. (See also Heisenberg uncertainty principle.)
  • Usage notes

    * Complementary and complimentary are frequently confused and misused in place of one another.

    Derived terms

    * complementarily * complementarity * complementary angle * complementary colour * complementary distribution

    Noun

    (complementaries)
  • A complementary colour.
  • (obsolete) One skilled in compliments.
  • (Ben Jonson)

    contradictory

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • That contradicts something, such as an argument.
  • That is itself a contradiction.
  • That is diametrically opposed to something.
  • * Addison
  • Schemes contradictory to common sense.
  • Mutually exclusive.
  • Tending to contradict or oppose, contrarious.
  • Derived terms

    * contradictorily * contradictoriness

    Synonyms

    * opposite * (mutually exclusive ) incompatible

    Noun

    (contradictories)
  • (logic) Any of a pair of propositions, that cannot both be true or both be false.
  • *
  • Hyponyms

    * negation

    See also

    * oxymoron * paradox