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

This senseless policy needlessly puts lives at risk, and it’s critical that the American people speak out about why this rule change is dangerous and contrary to our values.

From Washington Blade

Quite the contrary, the delays help ensure legitimacy of the votes.

From Fortune

On the contrary, you can run 404 checks to locate pages that are not working anymore to ensure that they are redirected in the correct page.

From Search Engine Watch

On the contrary, the whole point is that business on its own can make the world a better place.

From Fortune

And, contrary to popular belief, I’m also a huge proponent of public transportation.

From Fortune

He argues persuasively that the decision to launch the attack was completely contrary to reason and good military judgment.

From The Daily Beast

Contrary to the popular narrative, TNR did not “die” last week.

From The Daily Beast

Contrary to what you may assume about me, I actually enjoy the occasional trip to the mall.

From The Daily Beast

No, on the contrary, only a fraction of this country, a part which I would call the best of Italy, is against the Mafia.

From The Daily Beast

Contrary to the conventional wisdom, there is nothing intrinsically “progressive” about hating suburbs.

From The Daily Beast

Whether they had ever, at different times, pleaded for or against the same cause, and cited precedents to prove contrary opinions?

From Project Gutenberg

My husband detests them; on the contrary, I like those carriages, for they tell me of happy—I mean to say, of former times.

From Project Gutenberg

This seems to be contrary to the spirit and intent of the act, which is primarily to centralize reserves in Federal Reserve Banks.

From Project Gutenberg

On the contrary, the full meaning of the act is manifestly opposed to such an idea.

From Project Gutenberg

Mrs. Pontellier was not a woman given to confidences, a characteristic hitherto contrary to her nature.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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