the contrary
noun
: an opposite or different fact, event, or situation
He was sure his sister had made a mistake, but the contrary was true: she was right and he was wrong.
Examples of the contrary in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
On the contrary, the administration has removed sanctions from the Institute for Forensic Science, part of China’s Ministry of Public Security and implicated in the ongoing Uyghur genocide, in exchange for getting China to the table on its role in fentanyl supply chains.
—
The Editors, National Review, 15 May 2024
Louie blames his bad results on bad luck despite all the evidence to the contrary.
—Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 14 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for the contrary 
The Editors, National Review, 15 May 2024
Louie blames his bad results on bad luck despite all the evidence to the contrary.
—Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 14 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for the contrary
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'the contrary.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near the contrary
Cite this Entry
“The contrary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20contrary. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
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