contrary
18 synonyms and 3 antonyms for contrary, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Completely opposite in nature or direction.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use contrary
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French contraire, from Latin contrarius ("opposite, opposed"), from contra ("against").
Full origin of contrary →Frequently asked questions
What does “contrary” mean?
The word “contrary” means completely opposite in nature or direction. In plain terms, opposite or opposed — or, describing a person, stubbornly awkward.
How do you pronounce “contrary”?
“Contrary” is pronounced KONT-ruh-ree (/ˈkɑntɹɛɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “contrary” in a sentence?
Here is “contrary” used in a sentence: “Contrary to expectations, the team won easily.”
What is another word for “contrary”?
Words with a similar meaning to “contrary” include against the grain, at cross purposes, contradictory, contrariant, contrarious and counter.
What is the opposite of “contrary”?
The opposite of “contrary” — its antonyms — are cooperative, synergistic and unopposed.
What part of speech is “contrary”?
Depending on how it is used, “contrary” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “contrary” come from?
The word “contrary” comes from Latin. From Old French contraire, from Latin contrarius ("opposite, opposed"), from contra ("against").
Is “contrary” a common word?
“Contrary” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between 'contrary' and 'opposite'?
'Opposite' simply means as different as possible in position, direction or nature. 'Contrary' shares that sense of being completely opposed, but can add the idea of conflict or of a person being stubbornly inclined to disagree. All contrary things are opposed, but 'opposite' is the more neutral word.
What is the difference between 'contrary' and 'contradictory'?
'Contrary' describes something completely opposite in nature or direction, or a person who habitually disagrees. 'Contradictory' means two statements or facts that cannot both be true at once. Ideas can be contrary yet not strictly contradictory if they are merely opposed rather than logically incompatible.