adj
Meaning 1
Opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- contrary winds
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
contrary
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
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UK: /ˈkɒntɹəɹi/
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UK: /kənˈtɹɛəɹi/
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UK: /ˈkɒntɹi/ haplology
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US: /ˈkɑntɹɛɹi/
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US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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CMU ARPABET: K AA1 N T R EH0 R IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
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CMU ARPABET 2: K AH0 N T R EH1 R IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
adj
Meaning 2
Opposed; contradictory; inconsistent.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adj
Meaning 3
Given to opposition; perverse; wayward.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- a contrary disposition; a contrary child
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adv
Meaning 4
Contrarily
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- I never act contrary to my principles.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 5
The opposite.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 6
One of a pair of propositions that cannot both be simultaneously true, though they may both be false.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: human-sciences, logic, mathematics, philosophy, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 7
A type of loaded die.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: historical
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 8
To oppose; to frustrate.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 9
To impugn.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 10
To contradict (someone or something).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 11
To do the opposite of (someone or something).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 12
To act inconsistently or perversely; to act in opposition to.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 13
To argue; to debate; to uphold an opposite opinion.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 14
To be self-contradictory; to become reversed.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adjective satellite
Meaning 15
in an opposing direction
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- adverse currents
- a contrary wind
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: adverse
Antonyms: none provided
adjective satellite
Meaning 16
resistant to guidance or discipline
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- Mary Mary quite contrary
- an obstinate child with a violent temper
- a perverse mood
- wayward behavior
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: obstinate, perverse, wayward
Antonyms: none provided
adjective satellite
Meaning 17
very opposed in nature or character or purpose
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- acts contrary to our code of ethics
- the facts point to a contrary conclusion
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adjective satellite
Meaning 18
of words or propositions so related that both cannot be true but both may be false
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- `hot' and `cold' are contrary terms
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 19
a logical relation such that two propositions are contraries if both cannot be true but both can be false
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: logical relation
noun
Meaning 20
exact opposition
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- public opinion to the contrary he is not guilty
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: opposition, oppositeness
noun
Meaning 21
a relation of direct opposition
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- we thought Sue was older than Bill but just the reverse was true
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: reverse, opposite
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: opposition, oppositeness
History
Etymology
From Middle English contrarie, compare French contraire, from Old French contraire, from Latin contrārius (“opposite, opposed, contrary”), from contrā (“against”).
Across languages
Translations
81 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Bulgarian: насрещен (nasrešten) — opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse
- Chinese Mandarin: 相反 (xiāng fǎn) — opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse
- Finnish: vastainen — opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse
- French: contraire — opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse
- German: entgegengesetzt — opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse
- German: gegenläufig — opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse
- German: entgegenstehend — opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse
- German: ungünstig — opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse
- German: widrig — opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse
- German: konträr — opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse
- German: gegenteilig — opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse
- German: zuwider — opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse
- German: gegen — opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse
- German: zuwiderlaufend — opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse
- German: entgegen — opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse
- German: im Gegensatz zu — opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse
- Latin: contrārius — opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse
- Māori: tūmū — opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse
- Māori: tukipoho — opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse
- Spanish: contrario — opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse
- Bulgarian: обратен (obraten) — opposed
- Bulgarian: противоположен (protivopoložen) — opposed
- Dutch: tegengesteld — opposed
- Dutch: tegenovergesteld — opposed
- Esperanto: malakorda — opposed
- Finnish: vastakkainen — opposed
- Finnish: päinvastainen — opposed
- French: contraire — opposed
- German: widersprüchlich — opposed
- German: entgegenstehend — opposed
- German: widersprechend — opposed
- German: gegensätzlich — opposed
- German: konträr — opposed
- German: anderslautend — opposed
- German: unbeständig — opposed
- German: anders lautend — opposed
- German: widrig — opposed
- German: zuwiderlaufend — opposed
- German: gegenüber — opposed
- German: im Widerspruch zu — opposed
- Ingrian: vassakkain — opposed
- Irish: contrártha — opposed
- Italian: contrario — opposed
- Italian: opposto — opposed
- Japanese: 逆の (gyaku no) — opposed
- Japanese: 反する (han suru) — opposed
- Kannada: ಮಾರು (māru) — opposed
- Latin: contrārius — opposed
- Māori: tukipoho — opposed
- Māori: kōrori — opposed
- Persian: مخالف (moxâlef) — opposed
- Persian: جدکاره (jodkâre) — opposed
- Romanian: contrar — opposed
- Romanian: opus — opposed
- Spanish: contrario — opposed
- German: eigenwillig — given to opposition; perverse; wayward
- German: trotzig — given to opposition; perverse; wayward
- German: konträr — given to opposition; perverse; wayward
- German: widerspenstig — given to opposition; perverse; wayward
- German: querköpfig — given to opposition; perverse; wayward
- German: bockbeinig — given to opposition; perverse; wayward
- German: bockig — given to opposition; perverse; wayward
- German: widrig — given to opposition; perverse; wayward
- Irish: ciotrúnta — given to opposition; perverse; wayward
- Bulgarian: обратно (obratno) — the opposite
- French: contraire — the opposite
- French: contrepied — the opposite
- Galician: aveso — the opposite
- Galician: contrario — the opposite
- German: Gegenteil — the opposite
- German: Gegner — the opposite
- German: Gegnerin — the opposite
- German: Gegenspieler — the opposite
- German: Gegenspielerin — the opposite
- German: sich widersetzen — frustrating
- German: widersetzen — frustrating
- German: entgegensetzen — frustrating
- German: behindern — frustrating
- German: hindern — frustrating
- German: verhindern — frustrating
- Māori: tukipoho — frustrating
Real reading context