contradiction
noun [ C or U ] uk/ˌkɒn.trəˈdɪk.ʃən/ us/ˌkɑːn.trəˈdɪk.ʃən/
C2 矛盾
the fact of something being the complete opposite of something else or very different from something else, so that one of them must be wrong
You say that you're good friends and yet you don't trust him. Isn't that a contradiction? 你说你们是好朋友，可你又不信任他。那不是有点矛盾吗？
a contradiction in terms 用词自相矛盾的话
a combination of words that is nonsense because some of the words suggest the opposite of some of the others
Many people think that an honest politician is a contradiction in terms. 许多人认为“诚实的政客”在用词上自相矛盾。
We went on an anarchist march, which is kind of a contradiction in terms.
Many engineers consider sustainable concrete a contradiction in terms.
He has produced a subtle thriller, if that's not a contradiction in terms.