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
Speaking of cryptocurrency, you may be relieved to know that Jonathan, the world’s oldest tortoise, is alive and well, despite rumors to the contrary.
—
Alan Henry, PC Magazine, 3 Apr. 2026
On the contrary, the home of Jim Beam has been pretty busy as of late, and the latest example is the new Knob Creek Blender’s Edition, a bourbon that is meant to highlight how important the art of blending is in American whiskey production.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2026
That's because 127 years ago, the Supreme Court ruled to the contrary.
—Nina Totenberg, NPR, 30 Mar. 2026
To the contrary, the United States has dispatched thousands of additional Marines and paratroopers to the region.
—Sam Metz, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the contrary
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.
Alan Henry, PC Magazine, 3 Apr. 2026
On the contrary, the home of Jim Beam has been pretty busy as of late, and the latest example is the new Knob Creek Blender’s Edition, a bourbon that is meant to highlight how important the art of blending is in American whiskey production.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2026
That's because 127 years ago, the Supreme Court ruled to the contrary.
—Nina Totenberg, NPR, 30 Mar. 2026
To the contrary, the United States has dispatched thousands of additional Marines and paratroopers to the region.
—Sam Metz, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2026
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 9 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
