oppositely

adverb

Definition of oppositelynext
as in inversely

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 oppositely The Democratic National Committee (DNC), as an intervening party to the case, had oppositely argued that unlimited coordinated spending would effectively erode limits on contributions. — Barbara McQuade, Mercury News, 7 July 2026 The fluctuations were concentrated near a boundary where oppositely directed magnetic fields meet — a region where scientists suspect magnetic stress builds up before flares. — Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 15 June 2026 Electrostatic forces occur when oppositely charged particles interact with each other. — IEEE Spectrum, 30 Oct. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oppositely
  1. inversely
  2. conversely
  3. contrarily
  4. differently
  5. otherwise
  6. vice versa
Adverb
  • Bond prices and yields move inversely, and as rates climbed many TIPS funds suffered.
    — Michelle Fox, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Metals prices largely declined throughout the Iran war, as metals generally traded inversely with oil prices, which spiked.
    — Conor Murray, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of inversely
Adverb
  • Inconsistency, conversely, will erode trust faster than it was earned.
    — Kate Barton, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Each critic portrayed the historical monument as an object of reverence owing to age, with specific reference to the psycho-historical implications of restoration or, conversely, of neglect.
    — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of conversely
Adverb
  • Perhaps contrarily Kirkham believes being a selective luddite is actually the easier path.
    — Barnaby Lashbrooke, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • In respect of job losses due to AI, however, panellists seem to be contrarily upbeat.
    — Marcus Lim, Variety, 16 June 2026
Definition of contrarily
Adverb
  • The report authors also looked at how climate change could play out differently if the world burns more or fewer fossil fuels and puts in place stronger or weaker policies.
    — Blanca Begert, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
  • This season, head coach Steve Kerr has made adjustments to the offense that include playing faster and spacing out the floor differently.
    — Jessica Golden,Alex Sherman, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of differently
Adverb
  • My own experience building what became a multi-billion-dollar company says otherwise.
    — Giorgos Tsetis, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
  • But there’s also the potential to keep the stories alive from survivors of conflicts, who would otherwise die and take with them lessons future generations could learn from.
    — Lissa Soep, Vox, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of otherwise
Adverb
  • Governors who have opted in for 2027 can also choose to opt out for 2028 or vice versa.
    — Cory Turner, NPR, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Riders without their dragons are as good as dead, and vice versa, which stresses the bond between human and beast formed on Threshing Day.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of vice versa

Browse Nearby Words

opposite
oppositely
oppositeness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Oppositely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oppositely. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of jilt

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All