Synonyms

contrarian

American

[kuhn-trair-ee-uhn] / kənˈtrɛər i ən /

noun

a person who takes an opposing view, especially one who rejects the majority opinion, as in economic matters.

contrarian British

/ kənˈtrɛərɪən /

noun

1. a contrary or obstinate person
2. ( as modifier )
  
  a contrarian investor
  contrarian instincts

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of contrarian

contr(ary) + -arian

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

contrarian

Two fund managers with a strong track record of contrarian commodity calls think the oil spike is yet to come.

From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026

Sentiment is often viewed as a contrarian indicator, because if investors are overly bearish and already sold, their next action could be to buy.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026

“No” is the answer — and according to contrarian analysis, it’s a sign of stubbornly held bullishness when they don’t.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 3, 2026

As venture capital has evolved, one investing truism remains: Home runs usually result from contrarian bets, rather than from diversifying a portfolio or chasing a hot sector.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026

Instead, Charity decides to ask herself the contrarian questions of the world, because unique questions will always yield unique answers.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023