Standard Lemma guide

contraindicate

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˌkɒntɹəˈɪndɪkeɪt/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To make inadvisable; to warn against a specific medicine or treatment.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: medicine, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

make a treatment inadvisable

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: indicate

Broader terms: rede, advise, counsel

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱe? Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm Proto-Italic *kom Proto-Italic *kom- Proto-Indo-European *-teros Proto-Italic *-teros Proto-Italic *komterosder. Proto-Italic *komterād Latin contrābor. English contra- English indicate English contraindicate From contra- + indicate.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 禁忌 (jìnjì) — to make inadvisable
  • Finnish: aiheuttaa kontraindikaatio — to make inadvisable
  • French: contre-indiquer — to make inadvisable
  • Greek: αντενδείκνυμαι (antendeíknymai) — to make inadvisable
  • Icelandic: mæla gegn — to make inadvisable
  • Norwegian Bokmål: kontraindisere — to make inadvisable
  • Portuguese: contraindicar — to make inadvisable
  • Spanish: contraindicar — to make inadvisable