widersprechen
to contradict
To express a different opinion to a person and not agree with them. The verb is used with the dative.
EXAMPLE
Ich muss Ihnen da leider entschieden widersprechen.
I'm afraid I must strongly contradict you there.
widersprechen
to contradict
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Meanings
widersprechen
to contradict
To be in contradiction with a statement, a fact, or a logic; to be incompatible.
EXAMPLE
Seine Handlungen widersprechen seinen Worten völlig.
His actions completely contradict his words.
widersprechen
to go against
To violate or go against a principle, a feeling, or a rule.
EXAMPLE
Es widerspricht meiner Natur, untätig zuzusehen.
It goes against my nature to stand by and do nothing.
widersprechen
to appeal / object
In the legal sense, to file a formal objection against a decision or official notice.
EXAMPLE
Sie haben vier Wochen Zeit, dem Bußgeldbescheid zu widersprechen.
You have four weeks to appeal the fine notice.
Usage tips
Word structure
The verb is made up of 'wider' (against) and 'sprechen' (to speak). Its literal meaning is therefore 'to speak against.' It is an inseparable verb; the prefix is never separated from the stem.
EXAMPLE
Er hat nie widersprochen, wenn seine Eltern etwas entschieden haben.
He never contradicted his parents when they made a decision.
Always with dative
A very important point: 'widersprechen' (to contradict) always requires the dative. Whether you contradict a person, a statement, or an official notice, the object is in the dative.
EXAMPLE
Die neuen Fakten widersprechen der alten Theorie.
The new facts contradict the old theory.
Typical adverbs
When contradicting a person, this is often intensified or softened with adverbs. Typical combinations are 'entschieden widersprechen' (to strongly contradict), 'vehement widersprechen' (to vehemently contradict), or 'freundlich widersprechen' (to politely contradict).
EXAMPLE
Ich muss Ihnen da ganz entschieden widersprechen.
I must strongly contradict you there.
Impersonal subjects
In this meaning, the subject and the dative object are often impersonal. It is about a logical conflict between two things, e.g. between actions and words or between two statements.
EXAMPLE
Dieses Ergebnis widerspricht allen Erwartungen.
This result contradicts all expectations.
Legal context
This meaning belongs to official and legal language. Here, you object to an official document, for example a 'Bescheid' (official notice), a 'Mahnbescheid' (payment order), or a 'Rechnung' (invoice).
EXAMPLE
Wenn Sie der Rechnung widersprechen wollen, müssen Sie das schriftlich tun.
If you want to object to the invoice, you have to do it in writing.
Compare with
bestreitenprotestierenwiderlegeneinwendenverneinenanzweifelnentgegentretenkollidierenentgegenstehenentgegensetzenanfechten
widersprechen vs bestreiten
to deny / cover / contest
Widersprechen means not agreeing with a person or their opinion. Bestreiten is more specifically directed at the truth of a statement. If you hold a different view, you widersprechen; if you state that a claim is untrue, you bestreiten it.
widersprechen
Ich widerspreche Lea, denn ihrer Einschätzung des Plans stimme ich nicht zu.
I disagree with Lea because I do not agree with her assessment of the plan.
bestreiten
Ich bestreite Leas Behauptung, dass der Plan zehn Millionen Euro kostet.
I deny Lea’s claim that the plan costs ten million euros.
In real life
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