The quality or state of being contradictory; the presence of statements or ideas that oppose each other and cannot both be true.
From 'contradictory' plus the abstract noun suffix '-ness.' Ultimately derived from Latin 'contra' (against) and 'dicere' (to speak), with '-ness' added to create a noun form in English.
The contradictoriness in human nature fascinates psychologists—we hold opposing beliefs simultaneously (wanting both security and adventure, for instance) and rarely notice, which our brains seem specially designed to overlook.
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