contrary

1 of 2

adjective

con·​trary ˈkän-ˌtrer-ē 

-ˌtre-rē

sense 4 often

kən-ˈtrer-ē 

1

: 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

2

: being not in conformity with what is usual or expected

actions contrary to company policy

contrary evidence

3

: unfavorable

—used of wind or weather

4

: temperamentally unwilling to accept control or advice

contrarily

ˈkän-ˌtrer-ə-lē, 

kən-ˈtrer- 

adverb

contrariness

ˈkän-ˌtrer-ē-nəs, 

kən-ˈtrer- 

noun

contrariness

2 of 2

noun

con·​trar·​i·​ness (ˈ)kän-¦trer-ē-nəs 

kən-ˈtrer-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being contrary : opposition, perverseness

Synonyms of contrary

Adjective

• contradictory
• opposite

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

Examples of contrary in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Still, this is a contrary call. —Jim Cramer, CNBC, 20 May 2026

The desperate, contrary need to be different — to be florid — pulled me completely out of the story. —Big Think, 22 Apr. 2026

But there’s no shortage of people that take a contrary view. —Brent Lang, Variety, 9 Apr. 2026

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

Word History

Etymology

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-

Noun

Middle English contrarinesse, from contrarie + -nesse -ness

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing contrary

• appearances to the contrary
• contrary to
• contrary to expectations
• contrary to popular belief
• contrary to popular opinion
• on the contrary
• the contrary
• to the contrary

Kids Definition

contrary

1 of 2 noun

con·​trary ˈkän-ˌtrer-ē 

plural contraries

: something opposite or contrary

contrary

2 of 2 adjective

con·​trary ˈkän-ˌtrer-ē 

sense 4 is often

kən-ˈtre(ə)r-ē 

1

: exactly opposite : entirely different

contrary opinions

2

: being against or opposed : in violation

actions contrary to the law

3

: not favorable or helpful

a contrary wind

4

: unwilling to obey or behave well

a contrary child

contrarily

-ˌtrer-ə-lē, 

-ˈtrer-

adverb

contrariness

-ˌtrer-ē-nəs, 

-ˈtrer-

noun