contrary

1 of 3

noun

con·trary ˈkän-ˌtrer-ē

-ˌtre-rē

plural contraries

Synonyms of contrary next

: a fact or condition incompatible with another : opposite

—usually used with the

: one of a pair of opposites

: a proposition (see proposition entry 1 sense 2a) so related to another that though both may be false they cannot both be true compare subcontrary

: either of two terms (such as good and evil) that cannot both be affirmed of the same subject

contrary

2 of 3

adjective

con·trary ˈkän-ˌtrer-ē

-ˌtre-rē,

sense 4 often

kən-ˈtrer-ē

: being so different as to be at opposite extremes : opposite

come to the contrary conclusion

went off in contrary directions

also : being opposite to or in conflict with each other

contrary viewpoints

: being not in conformity with what is usual or expected

actions contrary to company policy

contrary evidence

: unfavorable

—used of wind or weather

: temperamentally unwilling to accept control or advice

contrarily

ˈkän-ˌtrer-ə-lē

kən-ˈtrer-

adverb

contrariness

ˈkän-ˌtrer-ē-nəs

kən-ˈtrer-

noun

contrary

3 of 3

adverb

con·trary ˈkän-ˌtrer-ē

-ˌtre-rē,

also kən-ˈtrer-ē

: contrariwise, contrarily

Phrases

by contraries

obsolete : in a manner opposite to what is logical or expected

on the contrary

: just the opposite

The test will not be easy; on the contrary, it will be extremely difficult.

to the contrary

: on the contrary

: notwithstanding

Choose the Right Synonym for contrary

contrary, perverse, restive, balky, wayward mean inclined to resist authority or control.

contrary implies a temperamental unwillingness to accept orders or advice.

a contrary child

perverse may imply wrongheaded, determined, or cranky opposition to what is reasonable or normal.

a perverse, intractable critic

restive suggests unwillingness or inability to submit to discipline or follow orders.

tired soldiers growing restive

balky suggests a refusing to proceed in a desired direction or course of action.

a balky witness

wayward suggests strong-willed capriciousness and irregularity in behavior.

a school for wayward youths

synonyms see in addition opposite

Example Sentences

Noun As kiss-and-tell books go, "Opening Arguments" by Jeffrey Toobin has few, if any, deep and sensuous secrets to reveal—this despite many news stories to the contrary. —

Nina Totenberg, New York Times Book Review, March 31, 1991

He was not, despite the mythology he and his press agents so assiduously manufactured, a risk taker. On the contrary, he was more often timid to the point of fecklessness. —

Christopher Buckley, New York Times Book Review, 4 Nov. 1990

Other men—a surprising number of them—do not feel anger or blame. On the contrary, they feel a strong blood tie to their fathers, and to them the discipline was a minor thing. —

Robert Bly, Iron John, 1990

"Is this the girl who has moved into Villa Villekulla?" asked one of the policemen. "Quite the contrary," said Pippi. "This is a tiny little auntie who lives on the third floor at the other end of the town." —

Astrid Lindgren, Pippi Longstocking, (1950) 1978

the admonition that we should not return hate with hate, but rather with its contrary—love Adjective Kicking Wolf was a very contrary man—he did as he pleased. —

Larry McMurtry, Dead Man's Walk, 1995

At sunrise 4 January she set sail, and the homeward passage began. Two days later, Columbus sighted Pinta sailing in a contrary direction … —

Samuel Eliot Morison, The European Discovery of America, 1974

Mistress Mary got up from the log at once. She knew she felt contrary again, and obstinate, and she did not care at all. —

Frances Hodgson, The Secret Garden, 1911

The sisters gave contrary answers: one said “yes” and one said “no.” We had contrary opinions on the issue. Without contrary evidence, the jury will find her guilty. The boat sailed against a contrary wind. Contrary weather impeded the rescue efforts. See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The pandemic is not over, despite some proclamations to the contrary. —

Simon Makin, Scientific American, 8 Feb. 2023 Through it all, Mitchell has insisted that every one of his records was set on unmodified Donkey Kong arcade hardware, despite some convincing technical evidence to the contrary. —

Kyle Orland, Ars Technica, 3 Feb. 2023 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 Despite rumors to the contrary, a source told People in November that the relationship between Valente and Bündchen is strictly platonic and professional. —

Carrie Wittmer, Glamour, 18 Jan. 2023 Despite the pharmaceutical industry’s loud complaints to the contrary, the new law directing Medicare to negotiate drug prices may increase prices for some new drugs, congressional Medicare advisers said Friday. —

John Wilkerson, STAT, 13 Jan. 2023 On the contrary, the latest executions have reignited protests at universities. —

Frida Ghitis, CNN, 10 Jan. 2023 On the contrary, the word ‘gas’ did not appear until page seven, and its core revelation—that all but a small number of Jewish deportees to Auschwitz were murdered on arrival—did not come till the following page. —

Jonathan Freedland, Time, 29 Dec. 2022

Adjective

The government had a high-profile witness on its side with the author Stephen King, who testified that the merger would be especially harmful to writers who are just starting out, and took a contrary position to his own publisher, Scribner, which is part of Simon & Schuster. —

Elizabeth A. Harris, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2022 Partly because of complications arising from Smith filing for bankruptcy in 1996, different judges issued contrary rulings, with Smith winning $474 million, then slashing that to $88 million. —

Jason Sheeler, Peoplemag, 17 May 2023 But as contrary fan comments suggest, Jesse's earlier comments were a possible red herring from episode 3's surprise. —

Jacqueline Saguin, Good Housekeeping, 16 May 2023 Almost every teen wants to trust adults and tell them the truth; assume that of your stepson, even in the face of contrary evidence. —

Meghan Leahy, Washington Post, 10 May 2023 Known for his rare but always entertaining Q&As, Friedkin was in a sometimes jocular, usually contrary mood at the Chinese. —

Chris Willman, Variety, 18 Apr. 2023 The chief of police and one of his officers, however, have a contrary view of the manhunt, believing someone in their own department may be the killer. —

Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Apr. 2023 The government had a high-profile witness on its side with author Stephen King, who testified that the merger would be especially harmful to writers who are just starting out, and took a contrary position to his own publisher, Scribner, which is part of Simon & Schuster. —

Alexandra Alter And Elizabeth A. Harris, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Nov. 2022 But Mullally, who etched herself into the popular imagination as the boozy, wisecracking harpy Karen Walker on Will & Grace, and Offerman, who plays the dyspeptic libertarian Ron Swanson on NBC’s Parks and Recreation, aren’t being deliberately contrary or twee. —

ELLE Decor, 21 Oct. 2022

Adverb

The suspect was not wearing an explosives-laden belt, Van der Sypt said, contrary to an initial eyewitness account from a railway official. —

Michael Birnbaum, Washington Post, 21 June 2017 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'contrary.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English contrarie "the opposite, antithesis," borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Medieval Latin contrārium, noun derivative from neuter of Latin contrārius "opposite, opposing" — more at contrary entry 2

Adjective

Middle English contrarie "(of a pair) opposed, opposite, discordant, unfavorable, antagonistic," borrowed from Anglo-French, "opposite, wrong, immoral, antagonistic," borrowed from Latin contrārius "opposite in position or kind, antithetical, opposing, adverse, hostile," from contrā, adverb & preposition, "opposite, facing, against" + -ārius -ary entry 2 — more at contra-

Adverb

Middle English contrarie "on the contrary" (as translation of Latin ē contrāriō), (with to or ageyn) "in opposition to," derivative of contrarie, adjective, "opposed, contrary entry 2

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of contrary was in the 13th century

See more words from the same century