conversely

adverb

con·​verse·​ly kən-ˈvərs-lē 

ˈkän-ˌvərs-

: in a contrasting or opposite way

—used to introduce a statement that contrasts with a previous statement or presents a differing interpretation or possibility

The jurors' decision not to ask to rehear the experts' testimony could be an indication that they accepted their opinions at face value or, conversely, that they were unimpressed.

—Manuel Roig-Franzia

If this active gene is a mutation that would otherwise have been recessive, it can lead to disease. Conversely, if the silenced gene is harmful in some way, imprinting can be beneficial.

—Michael Reilly

Synonyms of conversely

• again
• if anything

Examples of conversely in a Sentence

she cannot stand sugary food; conversely, her husband is fond of sweets

Recent Examples on the Web

Or some might be in the right place at the right time and get too much credit for success, or, conversely, get blamed for being unable to fix an unfixable company. —Phil Wahba, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2026

Increasingly, taxpayer advocates are taking a hard look at city policies that offer developers hefty tax incentives, or, conversely, reduce the value of existing properties, disincentivizing private-sector investment in the city. —Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 5 Apr. 2026

Requiring hours of collaboration and complex coding, the 1976 animation is, conversely, one of Bettina’s most visually straightforward objects. —Katherine Rochester, Artforum, 1 Apr. 2026

Fossil fuels, conversely, are permanently exposed to ongoing opex risk. —Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 27 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1730, in the meaning defined above