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
Public-facing materials and media narratives frequently frame weight as evidence of a lack of willpower to resist fatty and sugary foods — despite evidence to the contrary.
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Time, 19 Dec. 2025
On the contrary, congressional majorities have often sacrificed the institution’s prerogatives to presidents of their own party and sabotaged their institution’s operations with debilitating procedural changes, such as centralizing power away from congressional committees.
—Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Working with other researchers on the recent national poll has shown her how often older adults feel that they are not disabled despite ample evidence to the contrary.
—Paula Span, Miami Herald, 15 Dec. 2025
Murphy said that speculation to the contrary is just the media and analysts making something out of nothing.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the contrary
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Time, 19 Dec. 2025
On the contrary, congressional majorities have often sacrificed the institution’s prerogatives to presidents of their own party and sabotaged their institution’s operations with debilitating procedural changes, such as centralizing power away from congressional committees.
—Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Working with other researchers on the recent national poll has shown her how often older adults feel that they are not disabled despite ample evidence to the contrary.
—Paula Span, Miami Herald, 15 Dec. 2025
Murphy said that speculation to the contrary is just the media and analysts making something out of nothing.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the contrary
Cite this Entry
“The contrary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20contrary. Accessed 25 Dec. 2025.
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