contrary

[ kon-trer-ee; kuhn-trair-ee ]

adjective

1. opposite in nature or character; diametrically or mutually opposed:

   contrary to fact; contrary propositions.

   Synonyms: counter, conflicting, contradictory

2. opposite in direction or position:

   departures in contrary directions.

3. being the opposite one of two:

   I will make the contrary choice.

4. unfavorable or adverse.

   Synonyms: unfriendly, hostile

   Antonyms: favorable

5. perverse; stubbornly opposed or willful.

   Synonyms: pigheaded, stubborn, headstrong, obstinate, intractable

   Antonyms: complaisant, obliging

noun

, plural con·trar·ies.

1. something that is contrary or opposite:

   to prove the contrary of a statement.

2. either of two contrary things.
3. Logic. a proposition so related to another proposition that both may not be true though both may be false, as with the propositions “All judges are male” and “No judges are male.”

adverb

1. in opposition; oppositely; counter:

   to act contrary to one's own principles.

contrary

/ ˈkɒntrərɪ /

adjective

1. opposed in nature, position, etc

   contrary ideas

2. kənˈtrɛərɪ perverse; obstinate
3. (esp of wind) adverse; unfavourable
4. (of plant parts) situated at right angles to each other
5. logic (of a pair of propositions) related so that they cannot both be true at once, although they may both be false together Compare subcontrary contradictory

noun

1. the exact opposite (esp in the phrase to the contrary )
2. on the contrary
   quite the reverse; not at all
3. either of two exactly opposite objects, facts, or qualities
4. logic a statement that cannot be true when a given statement is true

adverb

1. in an opposite or unexpected way

   contrary to usual belief

2. in conflict (with) or contravention (of)

   contrary to nature

Derived Forms

• conˈtrariness, noun

Other Words From

• contrar·i·ly [kon, -trer-, uh, -lee, k, uh, n-, trair, -], adverb
• contrar·i·ness noun
• quasi-contrar·i·ly adverb
• quasi-contrar·y adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of contrary¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English contrarie, from Anglo-French, from Latin contrārius; equivalent to contra ¹ + -ary

Word History and Origins

Origin of contrary¹

C14: from Latin contrārius opposite, from contrā against

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. by contraries, contrary to expectation.
2. on the contrary,
   1. in opposition to what has been stated.
   2. from another point of view:

      On the contrary, there may be some who would agree with you.

3. to the contrary,
   1. to the opposite effect:

      I believe he is innocent, whatever they may say to the contrary.

   2. to a different effect.

More idioms and phrases containing contrary

see on the contrary ; to the contrary .

Synonym Study

See opposite. Contrary, adverse both describe something that opposes. Contrary conveys an idea of something impersonal and objective whose opposition happens to be unfavorable: contrary winds. Adverse suggests something more personally unfriendly or even hostile; it emphasizes the idea of the resulting misfortune to that which is opposed: The judge rendered a decision adverse to the defendant.

Example Sentences

Contrary to popular belief, the most destructive force in most Southern California wildfires isn’t the flames — it’s the embers.

From Los Angeles Times

“Doing things to your house — in particular things like vent screens, or closing eaves on your roof or having double-pane windows — can significantly increase the chance that your house survives a fire, but contrary to what a lot of people like to say, this is not a guarantee.”

From Los Angeles Times

You will be told, despite evidence to the contrary, that everything is better than ever.

From Salon

Act leader Seymour - who is also New Zealand's associate justice minister - argues that because the principles have never been properly defined legally, the courts "have been able to develop principles that have been used to justify actions that are contrary to the principle of equal rights".

From BBC

On Tuesday, he pleaded guilty to escaping from HMP Wandsworth in September 2023, but denies charges contrary to the Official Secrets Act and Terrorism Act, and is accused of perpetrating a bomb hoax.

From BBC

Related Words

• adverse
• antithetical
• conflicting
• contradictory
• discordant
• hostile
• inconsistent
• inimical
• negative
• opposed
• paradoxical
• wrongheaded