Complementary vs Contradictory - What's the difference?
complementary | contradictory |
Acting as a complement.
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(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.)
A complementary colour.
(obsolete) One skilled in compliments.
That contradicts something, such as an argument.
That is itself a contradiction.
That is diametrically opposed to something.
* Addison
Mutually exclusive.
Tending to contradict or oppose, contrarious.
(logic) Any of a pair of propositions, that cannot both be true or both be false.
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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
English
(wikipedia complementary)Adjective
(en adjective)- 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).
Usage notes
* Complementary and complimentary are frequently confused and misused in place of one another.Derived terms
* complementarily * complementarity * complementary angle * complementary colour * complementary distributionNoun
(complementaries)- (Ben Jonson)
External links
* *contradictory
English
Adjective
(en adjective)- Schemes contradictory to common sense.