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: hostile, unfriendly, unfriendly
   Antonyms: favorable

5. perverse; stubbornly opposed or willful.

   Synonyms: pigheaded, stubborn, headstrong, obstinate, intractable
   Antonyms: complaisant, obliging

noun

plural

contraries 

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. 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. 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

Other Word Forms

• contrarily adverb
• contrariness noun
• quasi-contrarily adverb
• quasi-contrary 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.

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

“The implications of a contrary conclusion are extraordinary,” the judge wrote.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The recovery in markets looked set to continue, after the New York Fed president on Friday said he supported a rate cut despite a chorus of voices at the central bank to the contrary.

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They began the set — contrary to the noisy atmosphere of the year prior characterized by distorted alternative rock — with a piano solo.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Despite all the arguments to the contrary, the U.S. does not depend on the sale of Treasurys to pay its bills.

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“On the contrary, the puppets were a vehicle that allowed us to tell stories that interested us.”

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Related Words

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