contravene

[kon-truh-veen]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR contravene ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), con·tra·vened, con·tra·ven·ing.

to come or be in conflict with; go or act against; deny or oppose: to contravene a statement.

to violate, infringe, or transgress: to contravene the law.

Origin of contravene

1560–70; < Late Latin contrāvenīre, equivalent to Latin contrā against + venīre to come

Related formscon·tra·ven·er, noun

Can be confusedcontravene controvert

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for contravene

hinder, overstep, impugn, violate, repudiate, disobey, interfere, infringe, negate, breach, defy, transgress, exclude, resist, intrude, spurn, combat, cross, encroach, interpose

Examples from the Web for contravene

Historical Examples of contravene

Nature is always consistent, though she feigns to contravene her own laws.
Essays, Second Series
Ralph Waldo Emerson
All who contravene these orders will be tried by court-martial.
The Philippine Islands
John Foreman
Arsinoe did not contravene the arrangements of the two women.
The Emperor, Complete
Georg Ebers
The only prescription is that it shall not contravene the provisions of the proclamation.
American Eloquence, Volume IV. (of 4)
Various
Going to bed early does not contravene or anticipate the difficulty.
Opium Eating
Anonymous

British Dictionary definitions for contravene

contravene

verb (tr)

to come into conflict with or infringe (rules, laws, etc)

to dispute or contradict (a statement, proposition, etc)

Derived Formscontravener, nouncontravention (ˌkɒntrəˈvɛnʃən), noun

Word Origin for contravene

C16: from Late Latin contrāvenīre, from Latin contra- + venīre to come

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

Word Origin and History for contravene

1560s, from Middle French contravenir "to transgress, decline, depart," from Late Latin contravenire "to come against," in Medieval Latin "to transgress," from Latin contra "against" (see contra) + venire "to come" (see venue). Related: Contravened; contravening.