English Explanatory Dictionary

contrary

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse.
  2. Opposed; contradictory; inconsistent.
  3. Given to opposition; perverse; wayward.
adv
  1. Contrarily
noun
  1. The opposite.
  2. One of a pair of propositions that cannot both be simultaneously true, though they may both be false.
  3. A type of loaded die.
verb
  1. To oppose; to frustrate.
  2. To impugn.
  3. To contradict (someone or something).
  4. To do the opposite of (someone or something).
  5. To act inconsistently or perversely; to act in opposition to.
  6. To argue; to debate; to uphold an opposite opinion.
  7. To be self-contradictory; to become reversed.

Pronunciation

/ˈkɒntɹəɹi/ /kənˈtɹɛəɹi/ /ˈkɒntɹi/ /ˈkɑntɹɛɹi/ En-us-contrary.ogg

Word forms

contrary more contrary most contrary contraries contrarying contraried

Etymology

From Middle English contrarie, compare French contraire, from Old French contraire, from Latin contrārius (“opposite, opposed, contrary”), from contrā (“against”).

Synonyms

against the grain at cross purposes contradictory contrariant contrarious contrary counter cross disagreeable opposed opposing refractory witherward

Antonyms

cooperative synergistic unopposed

Related words

obstinate subcontrary contrarian contra counter

Derived words

canon by contrary motion contrarian contrarily contrariness contrarious contrariwise contrary to by contraries on the contrary quite the contrary to the contrary
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