con·trary
ˈkän-ˌtrer-ē 
-ˌtre-rē
plural contraries
1
: a fact or condition incompatible with another : opposite
—usually used with the
2
: one of a pair of opposites
3
a
: 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
b
: either of two terms (such as good and evil) that cannot both be affirmed of the same subject
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
con·trary
ˈkän-ˌtrer-ē
-ˌtre-rē,
also kən-ˈtrer-ē
Examples of contrary in a Sentence
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.
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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Barry Schwabsky, Artforum, 1 Dec. 2024
Anyone still out on new ownership is just a contrary a this point.
—Carl Anka, The Athletic, 29 July 2024
Dennis Harvey, Variety, 15 July 2025
Why are denials effective even in the presence of contrary evidence?
—Roseanne McManus, Foreign Affairs, 28 Apr. 2025
Michael Birnbaum, Washington Post, 21 June 2017
See All Example Sentences for contrary
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Noun
The context seemed to offer proof of William Blake’s adage: Without contraries is no progression.
—Barry Schwabsky, Artforum, 1 Dec. 2024
Anyone still out on new ownership is just a contrary a this point.
—Carl Anka, The Athletic, 29 July 2024
Adjective
One factor that does serve to lend a veneer of playful irony to the film’s contrary elements is Aaron Gilhuis’ original score.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 15 July 2025
Why are denials effective even in the presence of contrary evidence?
—Roseanne McManus, Foreign Affairs, 28 Apr. 2025
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 All Example Sentences for contrary
Cite this Entry
“Contrary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contrary. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
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
adverb
-ˌtrer-ə-lē
-ˈtrer-
contrariness
noun
-ˌtrer-ē-nəs
-ˈtrer-
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