contrary

[ kon-trer-ee; for 5 also kuhn-trair-ee ]
/ ˈkɒn trɛr i; for 5 also kənˈtrɛər i /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR contrary ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

noun, plural con·trar·ies.

adverb

in opposition; oppositely; counter: to act contrary to one's own principles.

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Idioms for contrary

Origin of contrary

1200–50; Middle English contrarie < Anglo-French < Latin contrārius. See contra1, -ary

synonym study for contrary

1. See opposite. 4. 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.

OTHER WORDS FROM contrary

con·trar·i·ly [kon-trer-uh-lee, kuhn-trair-] /ˈkɒn trɛr ə li, kənˈtrɛər-/, adverbcon·trar·i·ness, nounqua·si-con·trar·i·ly, adverbqua·si-con·trar·y, adjective

Words nearby contrary

contrarian, contrariety, contrarily, contrarious, contrariwise, contrary, contrary motion, contrasexual, contrast, contrast bath, contrast enema
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to contrarily

adversely, critically, separately, individually, variously, negatively, differently, opposite, diversely, about-face, again, contrary, reversed, backwards, contra, contrariwise, conversely, inversely, oppositely, conflictingly

Example sentences from the Web for contrarily

British Dictionary definitions for contrarily (1 of 2)

contrarily

adverb

(kənˈtrɛərɪlɪ) in a perverse or obstinate manner
(ˈkɒntrərɪlɪ) on the other hand; from the opposite point of view
(ˈkɒntrərɪlɪ) in an opposite, adverse, or unexpected way

British Dictionary definitions for contrarily (2 of 2)

contrary
/ (ˈkɒntrərɪ) /

adjective

noun plural -ries

adverb (usually foll by to)

in an opposite or unexpected waycontrary to usual belief
in conflict (with) or contravention (of)contrary to nature

Derived forms of contrary

contrariness, noun

Word Origin for contrary

C14: from Latin contrārius opposite, from contrā against
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

Idioms and Phrases with contrarily

contrary

see on the contrary; to the contrary.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.