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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in mischievous
engaging in or marked by childish misbehavior
a contrary child who wouldn't behave
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of contrary
Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 20 May 2025
This is a contrary indicator as these levels are often seen at important market bottoms.
—Tom Aspray, Forbes.com, 10 May 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 contrary
Adjective
As is frequently the case in America these days, those looking for ways to blame an act of terror on distinctly right-wing or leftist extremism will find that the truth lies in a baffling and murky middle where contrary strains of radicalism converge.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 20 May 2025
This is a contrary indicator as these levels are often seen at important market bottoms.
—Tom Aspray, Forbes.com, 10 May 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 contrary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contrary
Adjective
-
Running June 26-28, the conference catches Africa and a contradictory time.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
24 June 2025
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Balancing these seemingly contradictory demands requires a paradigm shift: one that doesn’t view technology and humanity as mutually exclusive, but rather as complementary forces that can amplify each other.—
Swati Deepak Kumar,
Forbes.com,
24 June 2025
Adjective
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The sophisticated audiences of 2025 require a little more grit, more mischievous fun.—
Rachel Elspeth Gross,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
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Zada lives up to the mischievous troublemaker in Lockhart’s book.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
19 June 2025
Adjective
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Mexican music has always been rock-ish in spirit — sincere, rebellious, a direct message that invites you to rebel against the world.—
Ernesto Lechner,
Los Angeles Times,
24 June 2025
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Strahovski shares details about her character’s state of mind the moment when everything changed with a bold and rebellious move, after finding love again with Commander Wharton (Josh Charles), below.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
22 June 2025
Noun
-
In an era when teams have been shedding non-player jobs to save money, Walter has done the opposite. 4. Find stars to build around Clayton Kershaw.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
19 June 2025
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The opposite is true for the Southern Hemisphere, which on the June solstice has its shortest day and longest night.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2025
Adjective
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In other news, water is wet and the Islanders are naughty.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
21 June 2025
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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
Adjective
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Serena became an integral part of the rebel movement to destroy Gilead.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
22 June 2025
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But on Friday, the beer maker said the situation had deteriorated further, and that armed personnel had taken control of its facilities in Bukavu and Goma - eastern Congo’s two biggest cities, now under rebel control - and nearby areas.—
Reuters,
CNN Money,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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In your garden, stink bugs can be a real bad problem...—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
28 June 2025
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But others are, at best, psychological signposts and, at worst, internet inside-jokes.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 June 2025
Adjective
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That’s what makes their fourth studio album, Lucius, almost defiant in its return to form.—
Marissa R. Moss,
Rolling Stone,
11 June 2025
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Asked about his potential exit at the weekend while on international duty for Germany, Ter Stegen was defiant.—
Tom Sanderson,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contrary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contrary. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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