Synonyms of contrary

contrary 1 of 2

adjective

ˈkän-ˌtrer-ē 

1

as in contradictory

being as different as possible

the other jurors seemed sure the defendant was guilty, but I came to the contrary conclusion

Synonyms & Similar Words

• contradictory
• opposite
• antithetical
• unfavorable
• negative
• diametric
• divergent
• adverse
• polar
• unlike
• hostile
• antipodal
• antipodean
• antagonistic
• counter
• dissimilar
• reverse
• cross
• inverse
• converse
• disparate
• alien
• obverse
• antipathetic
• unalike

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• similar
• like
• analogous
• same
• noncontradictory
• identical
• equivalent
• alike
• synonymous

2

as in mischievous

engaging in or marked by childish misbehavior

a contrary child who wouldn't behave

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mischievous
• naughty
• bad
• rude
• childish
• selfish
• rebellious
• errant
• improper
• froward
• wild
• defiant
• wicked
• immature
• disrespectful
• insolent
• impudent
• perverse
• untoward
• disobedient
• uncouth
• indecorous
• misbehaving
• unmannerly
• impolite
• obstreperous
• juvenile
• wrongheaded
• corrupt
• wayward
• unruly
• uncontrollable
• evil
• willful
• recalcitrant
• intractable
• unkind
• headstrong
• waggish
• dissolute
• refractory
• disorderly
• roguish
• ornery
• ungovernable
• ill-natured
• restive
• impish
• knavish
• ruffianly
• prankish
• transgressing
• balky
• ill-mannered
• infantile
• mutinous
• rascally
• thoughtless
• rowdy
• elfish
• monkeying
• inconsiderate
• puerile
• arch
• unkindly
• jejune
• monkeyish
• insurgent
• disobliging
• babyish
• pixieish
• kiddish

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• correct
• moral
• proper
• complying
• orderly
• behaved
• nice
• obedient
• dutiful
• compliant
• acquiescent
• divine
• submissive
• decent
• respectable
• polite
• kindly
• clean
• courteous
• decorous
• behaving
• thoughtful
• considerate
• angelic
• pleasant
• heavenly
• amenable
• modest
• amiable
• docile
• good-natured
• mannerly
• tractable
• complaisant
• discreet
• obliging
• mature
• cherubic
• adult
• governable
• grown-up

3

as in rebellious

given to resisting authority or another's control

the contrary soldier is facing a court-martial for insubordination

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rebellious
• rebel
• defiant
• stubborn
• adamant
• willful
• rigid
• untoward
• disobedient
• dogged
• mischievous
• obstreperous
• wayward
• contumacious
• unruly
• insubordinate
• naughty
• recalcitrant
• intractable
• bad
• unrelenting
• ungovernable
• dissident
• restive
• refractory
• froward
• wild
• balky
• incompliant
• rude
• resistant
• recusant
• uncooperative
• insurgent
• unbending
• uncontrollable
• perverse
• uncompromising
• obstinate
• unyielding
• negativistic
• immovable
• implacable
• obdurate
• mutinous
• inflexible
• pertinacious
• wrongheaded
• noncooperative
• mulish
• peevish
• opinionated
• monkeying
• adamantine
• unmanageable
• headstrong
• disorderly
• disrespectful
• hardheaded
• insolent
• impudent
• pigheaded
• impertinent
• fractious
• errant
• undisciplined
• ungracious
• uncouth
• inconsiderate
• unmannerly
• impolite
• self-willed
• nonconformist
• discourteous
• uncivil
• ornery
• monkeyish
• ill-natured
• ill-mannered
• misbehaving
• ill-bred

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• conformable
• obedient
• agreeable
• amenable
• cooperative
• docile
• amiable
• compliant
• submissive
• deferential
• acquiescent
• tractable
• behaved
• yielding
• obliging
• respectful
• polite
• proper
• courteous
• biddable
• disciplined
• ruly
• subservient
• slavish
• servile
• well-bred
• obsequious
• orderly
• decorous
• mannerly
• manageable
• controllable
• trainable
• kowtowing
• governable

contrary

2 of 2

noun

ˈkän-ˌtrer-ē 

as in opposite

something that is as different as possible from something else

the admonition that we should not return hate with hate, but rather with its contrary—love

Synonyms & Similar Words

• opposite
• antithesis
• counter
• obverse
• reverse
• negative
• antipode
• negation
• counterpoint
• converse
• inverse
• mirror image
• antonym

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• counterpart
• synonym
• analogue
• copy
• duplicate
• replica
• carbon copy

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective contrary differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of contrary are antithetical, contradictory, and opposite. While all these words mean "being so far apart as to be or seem irreconcilable," contrary implies extreme divergence or diametrical opposition.

contrary assessments of the war situation

When is it sensible to use antithetical instead of contrary?

While in some cases nearly identical to contrary, antithetical stresses clear and unequivocal diametrical opposition.

a law that is antithetical to the very idea of democracy

In what contexts can contradictory take the place of contrary?

While the synonyms contradictory and contrary are close in meaning, contradictory applies to two things that completely negate each other so that if one is true or valid the other must be untrue or invalid.

made contradictory predictions about whether the market would rise or fall

When can opposite be used instead of contrary?

In some situations, the words opposite and contrary are roughly equivalent. However, opposite applies to things in sharp contrast or in conflict.

opposite views on foreign aid

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of contrary

Adjective

Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your nonfiction development pipeline grow? —Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 3 Mar. 2026

His couplets—stitched together by a rhyme—typically saunter in contrary directions. —Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026

Noun

Soldiers, to the contrary, have regularly stood by as settlers engage in wanton violence against Palestinians. —Raja Shehadeh, The New Yorker, 28 Jan. 2023

And, it hadn’t been endorsed by big companies such as Pfizer, despite the company's claims to the contrary. —Sabrina Talbert, Women's Health, 23 Jan. 2023

Phrases Containing contrary

• on the contrary
• to the contrary