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contrary

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adjective

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contrary

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noun (2)

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective contrary differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of contrary are antithetical, contradictory, and opposite. While all these words mean "being so far apart as to be or seem irreconcilable," contrary implies extreme divergence or diametrical opposition.

contrary assessments of the war situation

When is it sensible to use antithetical instead of contrary?

While in some cases nearly identical to contrary, antithetical stresses clear and unequivocal diametrical opposition.

a law that is antithetical to the very idea of democracy

In what contexts can contradictory take the place of contrary?

While the synonyms contradictory and contrary are close in meaning, contradictory applies to two things that completely negate each other so that if one is true or valid the other must be untrue or invalid.

made contradictory predictions about whether the market would rise or fall

When can opposite be used instead of contrary?

In some situations, the words opposite and contrary are roughly equivalent. However, opposite applies to things in sharp contrast or in conflict.

opposite views on foreign aid

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of contrariness
Adjective
Ricks had to introduce conflict and contrary opinions in meetings to induce richer discussion and honest evaluation of projects and their risks and benefits. Alice Park, Time, 17 Apr. 2025 Meanwhile, some students just aren’t accustomed to contrary or controversial ideas and believe that even hearing them is harmful. Stephen Humphries, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Apr. 2025
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
Adjective
  • Iranian officials have accused Washington of shifting its tone depending on its audience, calling the messaging contradictory and counterproductive.
    Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025
  • Throughout questioning, her story changed, adding fake and contradictory details.
    Alex Gurley, People.com, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • Two decades on, Stitch ranks among Disney’s most ubiquitous characters — especially from a merchandising perspective, as that mischievous mug of his can be seen on backpacks, plush toys, T-shirts and, well, mugs of all sizes.
    Peter Debruge, Variety, 20 May 2025
  • Sure there might be a mischievous mouse-deer stealing fruit from an orangutan, but once the mystery is solved, the two animals comprise on how to share—no harm or conflict intended.
    Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 20 May 2025
Adjective
  • These two regions are no longer promising New World upstarts or rebellious outposts of Bordeaux.
    Jessica Dupuy, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
  • Meanwhile, Paul finds himself in a work crisis that puts the lifestyle of Julie and their rebellious son Russ (Simon Webster) in jeopardy, leading Julie back to the dopey sweetness of Carey.
    Esther Zuckerman, IndieWire, 19 May 2025
Adjective
  • Devil May Cry Perhaps the show most tonally opposite to The Last of Us on this list, Netflix’s Devil May Cry is a riotous, colorful blast of punk energy.
    Barry Levitt, Time, 26 May 2025
  • But for each of its actions, Beijing must count on an equal and opposite reaction from its largest trading partners, a dynamic that will accelerate China's decoupling from the West.
    John Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025
Adjective
  • The Renaissance’s old love language — the naughty puns, the sighs of longing and strategies of seduction, the paeans to the beauty of beloveds masked by fanciful Greek and Latin names — had grown obsolete long before Millay’s time.
    A.O. Scott, New York Times, 1 May 2025
  • They are seen flinging a pizza box into their bucolic yard, smearing their faces with paint, raising their middle fingers, and saying naughty words.
    Peter Tonguette, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • President Trump met with former rebel leader turned new president of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa.
    ABC News, ABC News, 18 May 2025
  • Incidents of violence by rebel groups fell from 1,936 in 2010 to 374 in 2024, according to data from the home ministry.
    Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • If sinister twists or Roy-style bad dads do it for you, hang on past the hour mark.
    Judy Berman, Time, 23 May 2025
  • If Americans were working longer to stave off poverty, then a rising retirement age would be a bad thing, said Andrew Biggs, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.
    Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 23 May 2025
Adjective
  • The defiant message comes after weeks of intense news coverage and a Republican House committee investigation into Hope Florida and its nonprofit charity arm, the Hope Florida Foundation.
    Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 14 May 2025
  • For weeks, Chinese officials had projected a defiant position, demanding the US remove all tariffs on China before agreeing to come to the negotiation table.
    Nectar Gan, CNN Money, 12 May 2025

Cite this Entry

“Contrariness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contrariness. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

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