contrary
KONT-ruh-ree
Contrary (adjective) means Completely opposite in nature or direction. Example: “Contrary to expectations, the team won easily.”
adjective
1
Completely opposite in nature or direction.
"Contrary to expectations, the team won easily."
"The evidence points to a contrary conclusion."
"The two witnesses gave contrary accounts of what happened outside the shop."
2
Stubbornly inclined to disagree or do the opposite of what's expected.
"The toddler was being contrary, refusing everything she was offered."
"Why are you always so contrary when we try to plan something together?"
"My contrary uncle says the sky is green whenever someone calls it blue."
noun
1
The opposite of something already stated.
"He claimed innocence, and nothing proved to the contrary."
"People assume the job is easy, but the contrary is true."
"I thought he was angry, yet he said the contrary and smiled."
How to use contrary
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOpposite or opposed — or, describing a person, stubbornly awkward.
Common pairings
on the contrary
contrary to popular belief
contrary opinion
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Word forms
- Plural
- contraries
- Third person singular
- contraries
- Past tense
- contraried
- Comparative
- more contrary
- Superlative
- most contrary
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ to expectations, the team won easily.
Etymology
From Old French contraire, from Latin contrarius ("opposite, opposed"), from contra ("against").
Synonyms
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perverse
obstinate
wayward
antithetical
conflicting
wilful
opposite
reverse
against the grain
at cross purposes
contradictory
contrariant
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for contrary
See all rhymes for 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.
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