Synonyms of contrary

contrary 1 of 3

adjective

1

as in contradictory

being as different as possible

the other jurors seemed sure the defendant was guilty, but I came to the contrary conclusion

Synonyms & Similar Words

• contradictory
• opposite
• unfavorable
• antithetical
• diametrical
• negative
• adverse
• diametric
• polar
• hostile
• unlike
• antipodal
• antipodean
• antagonistic
• divergent
• counter
• dissimilar
• reverse
• cross
• inverse
• converse
• disparate
• alien
• obverse
• antipathetic
• unalike

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• similar
• like
• analogous
• same
• noncontradictory
• identical
• equivalent
• alike
• synonymous

2

as in mischievous

engaging in or marked by childish misbehavior

a contrary child who wouldn't behave

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mischievous
• naughty
• bad
• rude
• childish
• selfish
• rebellious
• errant
• improper
• wild
• froward
• defiant
• wicked
• immature
• wilful
• disrespectful
• insolent
• impudent
• perverse
• untoward
• disobedient
• uncouth
• indecorous
• misbehaving
• unmannerly
• impolite
• obstreperous
• juvenile
• wrongheaded
• corrupt
• wayward
• unruly
• uncontrollable
• evil
• willful
• recalcitrant
• intractable
• unkind
• headstrong
• waggish
• dissolute
• refractory
• disorderly
• roguish
• ornery
• ungovernable
• ill-natured
• restive
• impish
• knavish
• ruffianly
• prankish
• transgressing
• balky
• ill-mannered
• infantile
• mutinous
• rascally
• thoughtless
• rowdy
• elfish
• monkeying
• inconsiderate
• puerile
• arch
• unkindly
• jejune
• monkeyish
• insurgent
• disobliging
• babyish
• pixieish
• kiddish

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• correct
• moral
• proper
• complying
• orderly
• behaved
• nice
• obedient
• dutiful
• compliant
• acquiescent
• divine
• submissive
• decent
• respectable
• polite
• kindly
• clean
• courteous
• decorous
• behaving
• thoughtful
• considerate
• angelic
• pleasant
• heavenly
• amenable
• modest
• amiable
• docile
• cherubic
• good-natured
• mannerly
• tractable
• complaisant
• angelical
• discreet
• obliging
• mature
• adult
• governable
• grown-up

3

as in rebellious

given to resisting authority or another's control

the contrary soldier is facing a court-martial for insubordination

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rebellious
• rebel
• defiant
• stubborn
• adamant
• willful
• wilful
• rigid
• untoward
• disobedient
• dogged
• mischievous
• obstreperous
• wayward
• contumacious
• unruly
• insubordinate
• unrelenting
• naughty
• recalcitrant
• intractable
• bad
• dissident
• ungovernable
• restive
• refractory
• froward
• wild
• balky
• incompliant
• rude
• resistant
• recusant
• insurgent
• uncontrollable
• uncooperative
• unbending
• perverse
• uncompromising
• obstinate
• unyielding
• negativistic
• immovable
• implacable
• obdurate
• mutinous
• inflexible
• pertinacious
• wrongheaded
• noncooperative
• mulish
• monkeying
• peevish
• opinionated
• adamantine
• unmanageable
• headstrong
• disrespectful
• disorderly
• hardheaded
• insolent
• impudent
• pigheaded
• impertinent
• fractious
• errant
• undisciplined
• ungracious
• uncouth
• inconsiderate
• unmannerly
• impolite
• self-willed
• nonconformist
• discourteous
• uncivil
• ornery
• monkeyish
• ill-natured
• ill-mannered
• misbehaving
• ill-bred

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• conformable
• obedient
• agreeable
• amenable
• cooperative
• docile
• amiable
• compliant
• submissive
• deferential
• acquiescent
• tractable
• behaved
• yielding
• obliging
• respectful
• polite
• proper
• courteous
• biddable
• disciplined
• ruly
• subservient
• slavish
• servile
• well-bred
• obsequious
• orderly
• decorous
• mannerly
• manageable
• controllable
• trainable
• kowtowing
• governable

contrary

2 of 3

noun (1)

as in opposite

something that is as different as possible from something else

the admonition that we should not return hate with hate, but rather with its contrary—love

Synonyms & Similar Words

• opposite
• antithesis
• counter
• obverse
• reverse
• negative
• antipode
• negation
• counterpoint
• converse
• inverse
• mirror image
• antonym

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• counterpart
• synonym
• analog
• analogue
• copy
• duplicate
• replica
• carbon copy

contraries

3 of 3

noun (2)

plural of contrary

as in opposites

something that is as different as possible from something else

the admonition that we should not return hate with hate, but rather with its contrary—love

Synonyms & Similar Words

• opposites
• antitheses
• antipodes
• counters
• negatives
• reverses
• obverses
• negations
• antonyms
• inverses
• converses
• mirror images
• counterpoints

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• synonyms
• analogs
• analogues
• counterparts
• copies
• duplicates
• replicas
• carbon copies

Phrases Containing contrary

• on the contrary
• to the contrary