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Post Reopened by tchrist
Post Closed as "Duplicate" by Rayan Khan, KillingTime, fev
Question Protected by Tim Lymington
Tweeted twitter.com/#!/StackEnglish/status/319175923939287042
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tchrist
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Is there a word for when an action has the oppositean effect opposite to thatthe one intended?

Is there a word, or phrase to express the concept of an action having the the opposite effect of the expected outcome?

For example taking, a drug taken to cure headaches that actually causes headaches, or an advertising campaign designed to deter smoking leadingthat leads to an increase in smoking.

Is there a word for when an action has the opposite effect to that intended?

Is there a word, or phrase to express the concept of an action having the the opposite effect of the expected outcome?

For example taking a drug to cure headaches that actually causes headaches, or an advertising campaign designed to deter smoking leading to an increase in smoking.

Is there a word for when an action has an effect opposite to the one intended?

Is there a word or phrase to express the concept of an action having the opposite effect of the expected outcome?

For example, a drug taken to cure headaches that actually causes headaches, or an advertising campaign designed to deter smoking that leads to an increase in smoking.

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Robert
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Is there a word for when an action has the opposite effect to that intended?

Is there a word, or phrase to express the concept of an action having the the opposite effect of the expected outcome?

For example taking a drug to cure headaches that actually causes headaches, or an advertising campaign designed to deter smoking leading to an increase in smoking.