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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
While Hern was not accused of causing his wife's death, court records show that authorities had suspicions to the contrary. Quinlan Bentley, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Oct. 2025 On the contrary, your honesty and integrity speak volumes about your relationship dynamics and approach to the connection. Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025 Neither Jones nor Bane were critical of their time with the Grizzlies in their interviews with The Athletic — quite the contrary. Joe Vardon, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025 Any insinuation to the contrary is misleading and irresponsible. Jake Allen, IndyStar, 1 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for the contrary

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“The contrary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20contrary. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!