1
as in rebellion
refusal to obey
cursed the contrariness of her beloved mutt when it refused to come back inside the house
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of contrariness
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
Supernatural beliefs, conspiracy theories and pseudoscience have struck researchers as totally impervious to contrary evidence.
—Eli Elster, The Conversation, 2 Dec. 2025
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
As a result, students often actively reject contrary points of view.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
Supernatural beliefs, conspiracy theories and pseudoscience have struck researchers as totally impervious to contrary evidence.
—Eli Elster, The Conversation, 2 Dec. 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
-
His language has been contradictory on some of these points as to who's going to do it and when.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Federal judges have issued contradictory rulings on cases raising questions about state regulatory authority.—
David Greising,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The Ospreys – a mischievous bird of prey – have returned.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Labubu, the vinyl plush collectible with a snaggletoothed grin and knowingly mischievous eyes, has become a viral sensation and one of China’s fastest-rising exports.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The 8-episode first season charts the improbable ascent of Joe and Rose Kennedy and their nine children, including rebellious second son Jack, who struggles to escape the shadow of his golden boy older brother.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
27 Mar. 2026
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In a mountain resort, rebellious snowboarders uncover a nuclear conspiracy in a uranium mine.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
On the opposite side, losing population wouldn’t be a good thing either.—
John Marks,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Neither of his fellow centre-backs Jaydee Canvot and Chadi Riad is anywhere near as capable or willing to carry the ball into midfield or play those long crossfield passes to set a player free on the opposite flank.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The home needed to display her naughty sense of humor too.—
Julie Vadnal,
Architectural Digest,
18 Mar. 2026
-
These plays are often brilliant, and even lesser variants are fun to watch, because piñata-whacking itself is a naughty thrill, a cathartic fantasy for anyone with a family and/or a secret.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In a message Monday on X, Sánchez said that so far there were no signs indicating that the plane was attacked by rebel groups that operate near Puerto Leguizamo.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Petro, a leftist who was a member of a rebel group in his youth, has attempted to stage peace talks with Colombia’s remaining rebel groups under a strategy known as total peace.—
Manuel Rueda,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Bernadine appeared to be useless—or, worse, a potential double agent.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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This is very bad for our health.—
Peter D'Oench,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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If anything, the regime is more defiant, belligerent, and brazen, determined to prevail at any cost.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2026
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Rejecting that, Zuckerberg’s defiant testimony saw the billionaire, who doesn’t let his own kids use his products, admitting Instagram, for example, had few guardrails and not much of anything in terms of anage verification system until just a few years ago.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contrariness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contrariness. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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