English Meaning & Definitions
Opposite in nature, direction, or meaning; diametrically opposed.
- โThe two witnesses gave contrary accounts of the accident.โ
- โDespite contrary evidence, he continued to believe his theory was correct.โ
The exact opposite of something.
- โThe truth was quite the contrary of what he had expected.โ
- โYou might think it would be difficult, but in fact the contrary is true.โ
Stubbornly inclined to disagree, oppose, or do the opposite of what is desired or expected.
- โHe is just being contrary because he doesn't want to follow the rules.โ
- โThe toddler was in a contrary mood all afternoon.โ
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for โcontraryโ.
Derived from the Latin 'contrarius', meaning 'set against' or 'opposite', from 'contra' (against). It entered the English language in the 14th century via Old French 'contrarie'.
Think of 'contra-' (against), meaning going against the grain or opposing what is expected.
Frequently Asked Questions About โcontraryโ
1. What is the meaning of โcontraryโ in English?
In English, contrary (adjective) is defined as: โOpposite in nature, direction, or meaning; diametrically opposed.โ.
2. How do you use โcontraryโ in a sentence?
โThe two witnesses gave contrary accounts of the accident.โ
3. What are English synonyms of โcontraryโ?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of โcontraryโ?
Derived from the Latin 'contrarius', meaning 'set against' or 'opposite', from 'contra' (against). It entered the English language in the 14th century via Old French 'contrarie'.
๐ฌ๐งMore English Words to English
View all English words โThe base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.