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.
On the contrary, conservatives and Republicans don’t vote for Democrats for a wide range of reasons that include policy stances and issues related to basic morality. Kimberly Ross, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025 On the contrary, Noack is raising her daughter to embrace freedom and flexibility. Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025 To the contrary, the courts wrote that the provision of Arizona's Constitution requiring donor disclosure for certain political spending suggested the state's framers would have favored disclosure. Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 9 Sep. 2025 On the contrary, the cost of avoiding your business numbers can be steep. Melissa Houston, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 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 13 Sep. 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!