contrary

[ kon-trer-ee; for 5 also kuhn-trair-ee ]
/ ˈkɒn trɛr i; for 5 also kənˈtrɛər i /

adjective

noun, plural con·trar·ies.

adverb

in opposition; oppositely; counter: to act contrary to one's own principles.

Idioms for contrary

Origin of contrary

1200–50; Middle English contrarie < Anglo-French < Latin contrārius. See contra1, -ary

synonym study for contrary

1. See opposite. 4. Contrary, adverse both describe something that opposes. Contrary conveys an idea of something impersonal and objective whose opposition happens to be unfavorable: contrary winds. Adverse suggests something more personally unfriendly or even hostile; it emphasizes the idea of the resulting misfortune to that which is opposed: The judge rendered a decision adverse to the defendant.

OTHER WORDS FROM contrary

con·trar·i·ly [kon-trer-uh-lee, kuhn-trair-] /ˈkɒn trɛr ə li, kənˈtrɛər-/, adverb con·trar·i·ness, noun qua·si-con·trar·i·ly, adverb qua·si-con·trar·y, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for to the contrary

contrary
/ (ˈkɒntrərɪ) /

adjective

noun plural -ries

adverb (usually foll by to)

in an opposite or unexpected way contrary to usual belief
in conflict (with) or contravention (of) contrary to nature

Derived forms of contrary

contrariness, noun

Word Origin for contrary

C14: from Latin contrārius opposite, from contrā against

Idioms and Phrases with to the contrary (1 of 2)

to the contrary

To the opposite effect, in denial, as in No matter what they say to the contrary, I am positive that he was present. This idiom was first recorded in 1512. Also see on the contrary.

Idioms and Phrases with to the contrary (2 of 2)

contrary

see on the contrary; to the contrary.