definitions

contrastive

[ kuh n-tras-tiv ]
/ kənˈtræs tɪv /
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR contrastive ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

tending to contrast; contrasting. contrastive colors.
studying or exhibiting the congruences and differences between two languages or dialects without reference to their origins: contrastive linguistics.

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RELATED WORDS

provisional, contrasting, disparate, distinct, distinctive, peculiar, offbeat, diverse, various, particular, distant, other, divergent, varied, diversified, differing, like, equivalent, relative, correlative

Nearby words

contrast, contrast bath, contrast enema, contrast medium, contrast stain, contrastive, contrastive stress, contrasty, contrasuggestible, contrate, contravallation

Origin of contrastive

First recorded in 1810–20; contrast + -ive
Related formscon·tras·tive·ly, adverbun·con·tras·tive, adjectiveun·con·tras·tive·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019