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contrary
[ kon-trer-ee; kuhn-trair-ee ]
adjective
- opposite in nature or character; diametrically or mutually opposed:
contrary to fact; contrary propositions.
Synonyms: , ,
- opposite in direction or position:
departures in contrary directions.
- being the opposite one of two:
I will make the contrary choice.
- unfavorable or adverse.
Synonyms: ,
Antonyms:
- perverse; stubbornly opposed or willful.
Synonyms: , , , ,
Antonyms: ,
noun
- something that is contrary or opposite:
to prove the contrary of a statement.
- either of two contrary things.
- Logic. a proposition so related to another proposition that both may not be true though both may be false, as with the propositions “All judges are male” and “No judges are male.”
adverb
- in opposition; oppositely; counter:
to act contrary to one's own principles.
contrary
/ ˈɒԳٰəɪ /
adjective
- opposed in nature, position, etc
contrary ideas
- əˈٰɛəɪ perverse; obstinate
- (esp of wind) adverse; unfavourable
- (of plant parts) situated at right angles to each other
- logic (of a pair of propositions) related so that they cannot both be true at once, although they may both be false together Compare subcontrary contradictory
noun
- the exact opposite (esp in the phrase to the contrary )
- on the contraryquite the reverse; not at all
- either of two exactly opposite objects, facts, or qualities
- logic a statement that cannot be true when a given statement is true
adverb
- in an opposite or unexpected way
contrary to usual belief
- in conflict (with) or contravention (of)
contrary to nature
Derived Forms
- DzˈٰԱ, noun
Other Word Forms
- Dzt·· [kon, -trer-, uh, -lee, k, uh, n-, trair, -], adverb
- Dzt··Ա noun
- quasi-Dzt·· adverb
- ܲȴ-Dzt· adjective
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of contrary1
Idioms and Phrases
- by contraries, contrary to expectation.
- on the contrary,
- in opposition to what has been stated.
- from another point of view:
On the contrary, there may be some who would agree with you.
- to the contrary,
- to the opposite effect:
I believe he is innocent, whatever they may say to the contrary.
- to a different effect.
More idioms and phrases containing contrary
see on the contrary ; to the contrary .Synonym Study
Example Sentences
He added that reports to the contrary were "false".
House Republicans who have been pressed about their position have contended, despite a contrary view from experts, that the Trump cuts can be executed without taking services from Medicaid recipients.
Recognising Russia's illegal occupation of Crimea would not only be politically impossible for Zelensky to accept, it would also be contrary to post-war international legal norms that borders should not be changed by force.
“America first does not mean America alone. To the contrary, it is a call for deeper collaboration and mutual respect among trade partners.”
On the contrary, he clung tightly to his “defense wins championships” explanation for making the deal that sent Doncic to Los Angeles and brought elite defender Anthony Davis to Dallas.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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