as in different
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as in differing
to be unlike; to not be the same
her depressed mood today contrasts sharply with her good spirits yesterday
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of contrasting
Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 4 Apr. 2026
Four candidates seeking to represent San Diego’s South Bay on the City Council would bring to City Hall contrasting types of experience, different priorities and varied solutions to the city’s budget crisis.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Luna suggests using a mosaic pattern in your flooring or shower tile, adding a contrasting shower niche, or installing a colored marble shower curb for high-impact ways to get in on these color trends.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Feb. 2026
Guardiola may have defensive injury issues, too, but the respective physical toll exerted could not be more contrasting.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
For instance, a classic contrasting pairing is oysters and stout.
—Jay R. Brooks, Mercury News, 24 Nov. 2025
Esplar Logo Leather Sneakers These Esplar sneakers stay true to Veja’s classic style while featuring a contrasting brown rubber outsole that makes the white leather pop.
—Melony Forcier, Travel + Leisure, 21 Nov. 2025
Tyla’s bold look wholly centered her jacket, featuring shells with a shine of muted golds and silver throughout to accentuate the style and add contrasting tones to the overall look.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 31 Oct. 2025
Solid colorways can be mixed and matched, while contrasting edge-trim ensures these never fall flat on your tablescape.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 23 Oct. 2025
Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
Plan reviews through a private provider like Inspected average 48-hour turnaround times, contrasting sharply with the months-long waits that once characterized the process of working directly with building departments.
—Ian Cohen, Sun Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2026
Jeans historically have always been considered a casual garment, while two-tone shoes—that is, heels or flats with two contrasting colors—evoke a more classic or even formal style.
—René Chávez Esparza, Glamour, 30 Mar. 2026
Michigan advances to face Arizona in the Final Four, a matchup loaded with NBA-level talent and contrasting styles.
—Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026
Looking for joy is a good way to bond with one another, though contrasting energy arrives in the Moon’s face-off with Pluto, asking us to balance attention with power-sharing.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026
In a noisy scene outside the Manhattan courthouse, contrasting groups of demonstrators chanted, blew horns and beat drums and cowbells.
—Arkansas Online, 27 Mar. 2026
For a burst of contrasting sweetness, toss in some pomegranate seeds along with a drizzle of hot honey and a tuft of fresh mint too.
—Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Mar. 2026
The research team found the highest PFAS concentrations when participants were age 3, which were associated with higher bone density at age 12, Buckley said — contrasting with the finding of lower adolescent bone density when the children had high PFAS levels closer to the preteen years.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Chrome powders also come in several different colors, allowing your finish to be icy, warm, monochromatic, or highly contrasting depending on your preferences.
—Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 4 Apr. 2026
Four candidates seeking to represent San Diego’s South Bay on the City Council would bring to City Hall contrasting types of experience, different priorities and varied solutions to the city’s budget crisis.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Luna suggests using a mosaic pattern in your flooring or shower tile, adding a contrasting shower niche, or installing a colored marble shower curb for high-impact ways to get in on these color trends.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Feb. 2026
Guardiola may have defensive injury issues, too, but the respective physical toll exerted could not be more contrasting.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
For instance, a classic contrasting pairing is oysters and stout.
—Jay R. Brooks, Mercury News, 24 Nov. 2025
Esplar Logo Leather Sneakers These Esplar sneakers stay true to Veja’s classic style while featuring a contrasting brown rubber outsole that makes the white leather pop.
—Melony Forcier, Travel + Leisure, 21 Nov. 2025
Tyla’s bold look wholly centered her jacket, featuring shells with a shine of muted golds and silver throughout to accentuate the style and add contrasting tones to the overall look.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 31 Oct. 2025
Solid colorways can be mixed and matched, while contrasting edge-trim ensures these never fall flat on your tablescape.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
The study also found that chatbots rarely endorse conspiracy theories—such as election denial or vaccine misinformation—contrasting sharply with social media, where such beliefs are over-represented.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
Plan reviews through a private provider like Inspected average 48-hour turnaround times, contrasting sharply with the months-long waits that once characterized the process of working directly with building departments.
—Ian Cohen, Sun Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2026
Jeans historically have always been considered a casual garment, while two-tone shoes—that is, heels or flats with two contrasting colors—evoke a more classic or even formal style.
—René Chávez Esparza, Glamour, 30 Mar. 2026
Michigan advances to face Arizona in the Final Four, a matchup loaded with NBA-level talent and contrasting styles.
—Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026
Looking for joy is a good way to bond with one another, though contrasting energy arrives in the Moon’s face-off with Pluto, asking us to balance attention with power-sharing.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026
In a noisy scene outside the Manhattan courthouse, contrasting groups of demonstrators chanted, blew horns and beat drums and cowbells.
—Arkansas Online, 27 Mar. 2026
For a burst of contrasting sweetness, toss in some pomegranate seeds along with a drizzle of hot honey and a tuft of fresh mint too.
—Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Mar. 2026
The research team found the highest PFAS concentrations when participants were age 3, which were associated with higher bone density at age 12, Buckley said — contrasting with the finding of lower adolescent bone density when the children had high PFAS levels closer to the preteen years.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 17 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contrasting
Adjective
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Lee Clay Johnson’s Bloodline and Carl Hiaasen’s Fever Beach answer that question in different, equally impressive ways.—
Francine Prose,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
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Lemon said that might no longer be a dealbreaker for some candidates, but feels that as a Black man, he’d be held to a different standard.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The three zoning districts have some differing conditions, the board report said — the data center district, for example, allows for taller buildings than the other two types and requires a significantly larger minimum lot size.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
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Across the Gulf Arab states, many of which cautioned Washington about the consequences of waging war on Iran, there are differing views on how the US and Israeli campaign should now proceed.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The novels range from supremely short to extremely long and include settings as disparate as a sunny cruise ship and COVID-era Manhattan.—
Bethanne Patrick,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
-
How any of these disparate pieces of the company fit together is anyone’s guess.—
Alexei Oreskovic,
Fortune,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The neckline and bodice also featured contrasted fabric to the more muted emerald tone of the midi dress.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Its light blue gingham plaid is made of cotton fabric, and the stocking is adorned with a mint green bow for a contrasted look.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The beloved actor, best known for playing the incomparable George Feeny on Boy Meets World, turned 99 on March 31.—
Hanna Wickes,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2026
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That incomparable vision was fueled by an inexhaustible optimism.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contrasting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contrasting. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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