CONTRARY TO Synonyms: 9 Similar and Opposite Words

contrary to

preposition

Definition of contrary to

as in against

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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 contrary to The directive was contrary to previous court rulings that provided immigration judges with discretion to decide motions to change venue, Dillon's attorneys said in the complaint. — Laura Romero, ABC News, 10 Sep. 2026 Such a response is contrary to my intent of deflecting attention away from the subject. — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 8 Sep. 2026 That runs contrary to the Governmental Accounting Standards Board’s (GASB) view that government’s purpose is to provide services and account for public resources, not generate profit. — Sheila Weinberg, Baltimore Sun, 6 Sep. 2026 My guess is that the anchor-outs, or at least some of them, see real estate agents’ commodification of the land as a betrayal of the values of California’s earlier inhabitants and contrary to their whole ethos. — Maggie McGowan, The New York Review of Books, 5 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for contrary to

Recent Examples of Synonyms for contrary to

Preposition

The system is designed to provide short-range protection against drones, helicopters and low-flying aircraft, adding an air-defense layer alongside NMESIS’ anti-ship capability.

— Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026
AbdulSalam Mohammed, president of the Abaad Studies & Research Center and an adviser to Yemen’s Information Ministry, told the Washington Examiner that government forces are currently focused on defending against the Houthis along three main axes.

— Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of against

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contrary

contrary to

contrast

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“Contrary to.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contrary%20to. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of contrary to

preposition

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