Definitions for contrary
ˈkɒn trɛr i; for 5 also kənˈtrɛər icon·tra·ry

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:4.5 / 10 votes

1. reverse, contrary, oppositenoun

   a relation of direct opposition

   "we thought Sue was older than Bill but just the reverse was true"

2. contrarynoun

   exact opposition

   "public opinion to the contrary he is not guilty"

3. contraryadjective

   a logical relation such that two propositions are contraries if both cannot be true but both can be false

4. contraryadjective

   very opposed in nature or character or purpose

   "acts contrary to our code of ethics"; "the facts point to a contrary conclusion"

5. contraryadjective

   of words or propositions so related that both cannot be true but both may be false

   "`hot' and `cold' are contrary terms"

6. contrary, obstinate, perverse, waywardadjective

   resistant to guidance or discipline

   "Mary Mary quite contrary"; "an obstinate child with a violent temper"; "a perverse mood"; "wayward behavior"

7. adverse, contraryadjective

   in an opposing direction

   "adverse currents"; "a contrary wind"

WiktionaryRate this definition:2.8 / 4 votes

1. contrarynoun

   The opposite.

2. contrarynoun

   One of a pair of propositions that cannot both be simultaneously true.

3. contraryverb

   To oppose; to frustrate.

4. contraryverb

   To impugn.

5. contraryverb

   To contradict (someone or something).

6. contraryverb

   To do the opposite of (someone or something).

7. contraryverb

   To act inconsistently or perversely; to act in opposition to.

8. contraryverb

   To argue; to debate; to uphold an opposite opinion.

9. contraryverb

   To be self-contradictory; to become reversed.

10. contraryadverb

    Contrarily

11. contraryadjective

    opposed in nature

12. contraryadjective

    strongly dissimilar

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. CONTRARYadjective

   Etymology: contrarius, Latin.

   1. Opposite; contradictory; not simply different, or not alike, but repugnant, so that one destroys or obstructs the other.

   Perhaps some thing, repugnant to her kind,
   By strong antipathy the soul may kill;
   But what can be contrary to the mind,
   Which holds all contraries in concord still. Davies.

   2. Inconsistent; disagreeing.

   He that believes it, and yet lives contrary to it, knows that he hath no reason for what he does. John Tillotson, Serm. v.

   The various and contrary choices that men make in the world, do not argue that they do not at all pursue good; but that the same thing is not good to every man alike. John Locke.

   3. Adverse; in an opposite direction.

   The ship was in the midst of the sea, tossed with the waves; for the wind was contrary. Mat. xiv. 24.

2. Contrarynoun

   Etymology: from the adjective.

   1. A thing of opposite qualities.

   No contraries hold more antipathy,
   Than I and such a knave. William Shakespeare, King Lear.

   He sung
   Why contraries feed thunder in the cloud. Abraham Cowley, Davideis.

   Honour should be concern’d in honour’s cause;
   That is not to be cur’d by contraries,
   As bodies are, whose health is often drawn
   From rankest poisons. Thomas Southerne, Oroonoko.

   2. A proposition contrary to some other; a fact contrary to the allegation.

   The instances brought by our author are but slender proofs of a right to civil power and dominion in the first-born, and do rather shew the contrary. John Locke.

   3. On the Contrary. In opposition; on the other side.

   He pleaded still not guilty;
   The king’s attorney, on the contrary,
   Urg’d on examinations, proofs, confessions
   Of diverse witnesses. William Shakespeare, Henry VIII.

   If justice stood on the side of the single person, it ought to give good men pleasure to see that right should take place; but when, on the contrary, the commonweal of a whole nation is overborn by private interest, what good man but must lament? Jonathan Swift.

   4. To the Contrary. To a contrary purpose; to an opposite intent.

   They did it, not for want of instruction to the contrary. Edward Stillingfleet.

3. To Contraryverb

   To oppose; to thwart; to contradict.

   Etymology: contrarier, French.

   When I came to court I was advised not to contrary the king. Hugh Latimer.

   Finding in him the force of it, he would no further contrary it, but employ all his service to medicine it. Philip Sidney.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. contrary

   Contrary refers to something that is opposite in nature, direction, or meaning. It could also denote a situation or proposition that goes against or distinctly differs from what is expected, perceived, or established. In philosophy and logic, it may refer to one proposition opposing or contradicting another. It can also refer to a type of stubbornness or being difficult and uncooperative.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Contraryadjective

   opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse; as, contrary winds

2. Contraryadjective

   opposed; contradictory; repugnant; inconsistent

3. Contraryadjective

   given to opposition; perverse; forward; wayward; as, a contrary disposition; a contrary child

4. Contraryadjective

   affirming the opposite; so opposed as to destroy each other; as, contrary propositions

5. Contrarynoun

   a thing that is of contrary or opposite qualities

6. Contrarynoun

   an opponent; an enemy

7. Contrarynoun

   the opposite; a proposition, fact, or condition incompatible with another; as, slender proofs which rather show the contrary. See Converse, n., 1

8. Contrarynoun

   see Contraries

9. Etymology: [F. contrarier. See Contrary, a.]

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Contrary

   Contrary was a character from Malibu Comics' Ultraverse. She was created by Gerard Jones and Martin Egeland and first appeared in the series Freex, though she was better known as the founder of Ultraforce. Though it has never been truly confirmed, it is heavily implied in Freex that the nurse nicknamed "Wetware Mary" was the same woman who would eventually become Contrary. Both were humans who had access to the advanced technology of the Fire People, and both manipulated people in various ways for their own agendas.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Contrary

   kon′tra-ri, adj. opposite: contradictory—Contra′riant (rare).—n. a thing that is contrary or of opposite qualities.—n.pl. Con′traries, things opposite in quality: (logic) propositions which destroy each other.—n. Contrarī′ety, opposition: inconsistency.—adv. Con′trarily.—n. Con′trariness.—adj. Contrā′rious, showing contrariety: repugnant: opposite.—advs. Contrā′riously, contrarily; Con′trariwise, on the contrary way or side: on the other hand. [L. contrarius—contra, against.]

Dictionary of Nautical TermsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. contrary

   The wind when opposed to a vessel's course. "Cruel was the stately ship that bore her love from Mary, And cruel was the fair wind that wouldn't blow contrary."

Matched Categories

1. • Opposition

British National Corpus

1. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'contrary' in Nouns Frequency: #2504

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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How to pronounce contrary?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say contrary in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of contrary in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of contrary in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

Examples of contrary in a Sentence

1. De Croo:

   The information was wrong. The state has no intention at all to sell its stake, quite to the contrary. His only intention was to cause a strike.

2. Carlo Maria Vigan:

   I never told anyone that (the law firm) should stop the inquiry, and I never ordered any document be destroyed, any statement to the contrary is false.

3. City Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro:

   The excessive sick leave by a group of our Firefighters because of their anger at the vaccine mandate for all city employees is unacceptable, contrary to their oaths to serve, and may endanger the lives of New Yorkers, despite these actions by some, the Department will continue to respond to all calls for help that come our way.

4. Chris Fabricant:

   Defense lawyers had sought to have the bite-mark evidence barred from the trial on the grounds that it is scientifically unreliable. The judge’s ruling was “contrary to the overwhelming consensus of the scientific community,” said Chris Fabricant, director of strategic litigation for the Innocence Project. “It’s a victory for the Flat Earth Society.”

5. David Harris:

   Any fatality, any shooting, any murder of a police officer is a tragedy for that officer, the family and society -- and any one of them is one too many, but there's no evidence of an open war on police. In fact, the evidence is to the contrary.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=contrary
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Contrary
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=contrary
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contrary
6. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=contrary
7. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=contrary
8. ^ Dictionary of Nautical Terms
   https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/26000/pg26000-images.html#:~:text=contrary
9. ^ Usage in printed sources
   https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=contrary