Contrary
adjective
Opposite in nature, direction, or meaning.
His actions were contrary to the rules
Often appears as...
- contrary to popular belief
- contrary to expectations
adjective
Perversely inclined to disagree or to do the opposite of what is expected or desired.
She is contrary and stubborn
Often appears as...
- contrary child
- contrary reaction
Usage tips
Disapproving
Colloquial
noun
The opposite.
The truth is quite the contrary of what you say
Often appears as...
- quite the contrary
- on the contrary
adjective
Opposite in nature, direction, or meaning.
His actions were contrary to the rules
Often appears as...
- contrary to popular belief
- contrary to expectations
adjective
Perversely inclined to disagree or to do the opposite of what is expected or desired.
She is contrary and stubborn
Often appears as...
- contrary child
- contrary reaction
Usage tips
Disapproving
Colloquial
noun
The opposite.
The truth is quite the contrary of what you say
Often appears as...
- quite the contrary
- on the contrary
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Expect Unexpected
Use 'contrary' when outcomes are different from what was thought or intended.
He was smiling, contrary to her expectations of anger.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Expressions
'Contrary to popular belief' is a common phrase to introduce a widely held misconception.
Contrary to popular belief, bats are not blind.
Pro Tip 3/3Emphasizing Error
To stress that a belief or opinion is incorrect, start with 'contrary to'.
Contrary to your claim, the data does not support your conclusion.
Pro Tip 1/3Expect Unexpected
Use 'contrary' when outcomes are different from what was thought or intended.
He was smiling, contrary to her expectations of anger.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Expressions
'Contrary to popular belief' is a common phrase to introduce a widely held misconception.
Contrary to popular belief, bats are not blind.
Pro Tip 3/3Emphasizing Error
To stress that a belief or opinion is incorrect, start with 'contrary to'.
Contrary to your claim, the data does not support your conclusion.
Pro Tip 1/3Expect Unexpected
Use 'contrary' when outcomes are different from what was thought or intended.
He was smiling, contrary to her expectations of anger.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Expressions
'Contrary to popular belief' is a common phrase to introduce a widely held misconception.
Contrary to popular belief, bats are not blind.
Pro Tip 3/3Emphasizing Error
To stress that a belief or opinion is incorrect, start with 'contrary to'.
Contrary to your claim, the data does not support your conclusion.
Never forget "Contrary"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
His Epic Message Will...
underestimated our strength contrary to popular belief millions are waking up out of their sleep saying our home being taken right up under our feet we cannot allow a history to be written by the wicked greedy and loony it is our duty to protect Mother Nature from those who refuse to see her beauty call me crazy
Video examples
Militant atheism PIPE...
of people against their will. In most cases, people who out themselves will help to destroy the myth that there is something wrong with atheists. On the contrary, they'll demonstrate that atheists are often the kinds of people who could serve as decent role models for your children,
Video examples
How to escape...
They're very important. I'm not here to argue against science and math. On the contrary, they're necessary but they're not sufficient. A real education has to give equal weight to the arts, the humanities, to physical education. An awful lot of kids, sorry, thank you --
Video examples
How do focus groups...
generating new ideas for products and marketing based on deeper understanding of consumer habits. For example, early focus groups found that contrary to popular opinion at the time, wives often had more influence than their husbands when choosing which car to buy,
Video examples
How to Catch a...
better that's the first time ever heard that thought from the cowboy friends contrary to popular belief rattlesnakes do not deliberately attack humans she'll settle down and the dark will certainly help and she won't bite through your backpack
Video examples
Dan Dennett: Responding...
you have to deny the theory of evolution by natural selection. And I think, on the contrary, that it is very important to solving the world's problems that we take evolutionary biology seriously. Whose truth are we going to listen to?
Video examples
This could be why you're...
They did not say to this farmer, "Hey, buddy, you need to pull yourself together. It's your job to figure out and fix this problem on your own." On the contrary, what they said is, "We're here as a group to pull together with you,
Video examples
Can we improve prison...
I wasn't with it but I saw the change because of my life what would be the right so that gave me a new sense of awakening a new sense of consciousness I found that contrary to my previous perception the doors who find imprison
Video examples
Larry Smith: Why you...
The world will give you the opportunity to work really, really, really, really hard. But, are you so sure that that's going to give you a great career, when all the evidence is to the contrary?
Video examples
Rethinking infidelity...
in an antidote to death. And contrary to what you may think, affairs are way less about sex, and a lot more about desire for attention, desire to feel special, desire to feel important.
Video examples
His Epic Message Will...
underestimated our strength contrary to popular belief millions are waking up out of their sleep saying our home being taken right up under our feet we cannot allow a history to be written by the wicked greedy and loony it is our duty to protect Mother Nature from those who refuse to see her beauty call me crazy
Video examples
Militant atheism PIPE...
of people against their will. In most cases, people who out themselves will help to destroy the myth that there is something wrong with atheists. On the contrary, they'll demonstrate that atheists are often the kinds of people who could serve as decent role models for your children,
Video examples
How to escape...
They're very important. I'm not here to argue against science and math. On the contrary, they're necessary but they're not sufficient. A real education has to give equal weight to the arts, the humanities, to physical education. An awful lot of kids, sorry, thank you --
Video examples
How do focus groups...
generating new ideas for products and marketing based on deeper understanding of consumer habits. For example, early focus groups found that contrary to popular opinion at the time, wives often had more influence than their husbands when choosing which car to buy,
Video examples
How to Catch a...
better that's the first time ever heard that thought from the cowboy friends contrary to popular belief rattlesnakes do not deliberately attack humans she'll settle down and the dark will certainly help and she won't bite through your backpack
Video examples
Dan Dennett: Responding...
you have to deny the theory of evolution by natural selection. And I think, on the contrary, that it is very important to solving the world's problems that we take evolutionary biology seriously. Whose truth are we going to listen to?
Video examples
This could be why you're...
They did not say to this farmer, "Hey, buddy, you need to pull yourself together. It's your job to figure out and fix this problem on your own." On the contrary, what they said is, "We're here as a group to pull together with you,
Video examples
Can we improve prison...
I wasn't with it but I saw the change because of my life what would be the right so that gave me a new sense of awakening a new sense of consciousness I found that contrary to my previous perception the doors who find imprison
Video examples
Larry Smith: Why you...
The world will give you the opportunity to work really, really, really, really hard. But, are you so sure that that's going to give you a great career, when all the evidence is to the contrary?
Video examples
Rethinking infidelity...
in an antidote to death. And contrary to what you may think, affairs are way less about sex, and a lot more about desire for attention, desire to feel special, desire to feel important.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Bill Gates
American Businessman
Contrary to popular belief, I don't spend a whole lot of time following soccer. But as I have traveled around the world to better understand global development and health, I've learned that soccer is truly universal. No matter where I go, that's what kids are playing. That's what people are talking about.
Quote examples
Voltaire
French Writer
The little may contrast with the great, in painting, but cannot be said to be contrary to it. Oppositions of colors contrast; but there are also colors contrary to each other, that is, which produce an ill effect because they shock the eye when brought very near it.
Quote examples
Giambattista Vico
Italian Philosopher
It is true that men themselves made this world of nations... but this world without doubt has issued from a mind often diverse, at times quite contrary, and always superior to the particular ends that men had proposed to themselves.
Quote examples
Isabel Allende
Chilean Writer
Many fiction writers write for the critics or for themselves; they forget the common reader. I never do. I don't think journalism clashes with my fiction; on the contrary, it helps enormously.
Quote examples
Johnny Lever
Indian Actor
It is said that a person who makes other people laugh has a lot of pain in his heart. On the contrary, I have thoroughly enjoyed being a comedian and don't nurse such thoughts.
Quote examples
James Rodriguez
Colombian Athlete
Some people think that your life changes for the worse when you become a father, but on the contrary, when my daughter was born, she brought light and joy into my life.
Quote examples
David Hume
Scottish Philosopher
It is not contrary to reason to prefer the destruction of the whole world to the scratching of my finger.
Quote examples
Aldous Huxley
English Novelist
Consistency is contrary to nature, contrary to life. The only completely consistent people are dead.
Quote examples
Jean de la Bruyere
French Philosopher
The exact contrary of what is generally believed is often the truth.
Quote examples
John Petit-Senn
French Poet
True courage is like a kite; a contrary wind raises it higher.
Quote examples
Bill Gates
American Businessman
Contrary to popular belief, I don't spend a whole lot of time following soccer. But as I have traveled around the world to better understand global development and health, I've learned that soccer is truly universal. No matter where I go, that's what kids are playing. That's what people are talking about.
Quote examples
Voltaire
French Writer
The little may contrast with the great, in painting, but cannot be said to be contrary to it. Oppositions of colors contrast; but there are also colors contrary to each other, that is, which produce an ill effect because they shock the eye when brought very near it.
Quote examples
Giambattista Vico
Italian Philosopher
It is true that men themselves made this world of nations... but this world without doubt has issued from a mind often diverse, at times quite contrary, and always superior to the particular ends that men had proposed to themselves.
Quote examples
Isabel Allende
Chilean Writer
Many fiction writers write for the critics or for themselves; they forget the common reader. I never do. I don't think journalism clashes with my fiction; on the contrary, it helps enormously.
Quote examples
Johnny Lever
Indian Actor
It is said that a person who makes other people laugh has a lot of pain in his heart. On the contrary, I have thoroughly enjoyed being a comedian and don't nurse such thoughts.
Quote examples
James Rodriguez
Colombian Athlete
Some people think that your life changes for the worse when you become a father, but on the contrary, when my daughter was born, she brought light and joy into my life.
Quote examples
David Hume
Scottish Philosopher
It is not contrary to reason to prefer the destruction of the whole world to the scratching of my finger.
Quote examples
Aldous Huxley
English Novelist
Consistency is contrary to nature, contrary to life. The only completely consistent people are dead.
Quote examples
Jean de la Bruyere
French Philosopher
The exact contrary of what is generally believed is often the truth.
Quote examples
John Petit-Senn
French Poet
True courage is like a kite; a contrary wind raises it higher.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension