1
as in rebellion
refusal to obey
cursed the contrariness of her beloved mutt when it refused to come back inside the house
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in opposition
the quality or state of being as different as possible
a contrariness between his professed altruism and his blatant selfishness
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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
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2
as in mischievous
engaging in or marked by childish misbehavior
a contrary child who wouldn't behave
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3
as in rebellious
given to resisting authority or another's control
the contrary soldier is facing a court-martial for insubordination
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of contrariness
Ken Molestina, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
As a result, students often actively reject contrary points of view.
—Chicago Tribune, Twin Cities, 25 Jan. 2026
Raja Shehadeh, The New Yorker, 28 Jan. 2023
And, it hadn’t been endorsed by big companies such as Pfizer, despite the company's claims to the contrary.
—Sabrina Talbert, Women's Health, 23 Jan. 2023
See All Example Sentences for contrariness
Adjective
The video of the incident, now seen across the world and studied by non-partisan law enforcement experts, provides contrary evidence.
—Ken Molestina, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
As a result, students often actively reject contrary points of view.
—Chicago Tribune, Twin Cities, 25 Jan. 2026
Noun
Soldiers, to the contrary, have regularly stood by as settlers engage in wanton violence against Palestinians.
—Raja Shehadeh, The New Yorker, 28 Jan. 2023
And, it hadn’t been endorsed by big companies such as Pfizer, despite the company's claims to the contrary.
—Sabrina Talbert, Women's Health, 23 Jan. 2023
See All Example Sentences for contrariness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contrariness
Noun
-
The rebellion stems from Labor’s heavy losses in local elections last week and widespread party frustration over Starmer’s leadership, stagnant economic growth and failure to deliver on campaign promises.—
Danica Kirka,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
-
On the internet, masculinism is presented as a rebellion—a transgressive middle finger to the liberal establishment, expressed in all the words a corporate HR department would order you not to say.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Developers have canceled at least 20 data centers in the first three months of this year due to local opposition.—
Cooper Katz McKim,
NPR,
18 May 2026
-
But as word of the project spread, opposition in the community of Blackhoof Township quickly mounted.—
Karina Tsui,
CNN Money,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
The witness who identified Castorena as the shooter gave contradictory statements about what the suspect looked like throughout the investigation and trial, leading to the case being overturned.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
19 May 2026
-
The latter question seems to weigh profoundly on Hamaguchi, whose films feel at once meticulously calibrated and wildly audacious, and who here manages, as never before, to make those seemingly contradictory impulses coexist as one.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
Like tapping into that mischievous kid in me.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
18 May 2026
-
There on the screen, staring back at me, are two gigantic black eyes and a mischievous smile stitched on a massive, crocheted head — features of the mysterious, endlessly cheeky mask that has become Chuyin’s signature.—
Julyssa Lopez,
Rolling Stone,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
That would be a massive threat to the hegemony established by the film, especially for people at their most curious, rebellious age.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
15 May 2026
-
And what could be more rebellious than sending a roomful of serious cinephiles screaming for the exits?—
Christopher Vourlias,
Variety,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
In the Eastern Pacific, the opposite occurs, with favorable conditions supporting above-average hurricane season activity.—
Dan Peck,
ABC News,
14 May 2026
-
In the Pacific, the opposite happens, as wind shear is reduced during El Niños.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
The battle wasn't really over, though, as Jamie was shot and killed in a final act of defiance from the British.—
Julia Moore,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
-
Rather than performing as defiance against repression, Vahdat sees singing as an act of strength, resilience and self-protection.—
Andrew Gilbert,
Mercury News,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
The play was naughty stuff in 1925, when the show, starring Tallulah Bankhead, got banned.—
Sheldon Pearce,
New Yorker,
15 May 2026
-
But theatergoers around me couldn’t seem to get enough, no matter how repetitive the naughty humor became.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contrariness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contrariness. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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