contrary

B1 Topic:Describing Qualities

Also spelled contrairy

US /ˈkɑntɹɛɹi/ UK /ˈkɒntɹəɹi/ See IPA manual

Freq #4209

Meanings

1

adj
Completely different from or opposed to something in nature or purpose.

His actions are contrary to our code of ethics.
2

noun
The exact opposite of something.

Public opinion to the contrary, the suspect was not guilty.
3

adj
Deliberately doing the opposite of what is wanted; difficult to deal with.

He's a contrary child who refuses to do as he's told.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · completely different from... opposite opposed

2 noun · the exact opposite of... opposite reverse

3 adj · deliberately doing the... perverse wayward

More contradictory contrariant contrarious counter cross disagreeable opposing refractorywitherward

Opposites

cooperative synergistic unopposed

Word family

Forms contraries

Derived forms contrariancontrarily contrariness contrarious contrariwise

Related forms contracontrariancounter obstinatesubcontrary

Etymology

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

contrarie Middle English contraire Old French contrārius Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# contrary

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈkɑntɹɛɹi/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈkɒntɹəɹi/
**Frequency rank:** 4209

## Meanings
1. Completely different from or opposed to something in nature or purpose.
2. The exact opposite of something.
3. Deliberately doing the opposite of what is wanted; difficult to deal with.

## Examples
- His actions are contrary to our code of ethics.
- Public opinion to the contrary, the suspect was not guilty.
- He's a contrary child who refuses to do as he's told.

## Synonyms
- contradictory
- contrariant
- contrarious
- counter
- cross
- disagreeable
- opposed
- opposing
- refractory
- witherward

## Antonyms
- cooperative
- synergistic
- unopposed

## Derived Forms
- contrarian
- contrarily
- contrariness
- contrarious
- contrariwise

## Related Forms
- contra
- contrarian
- counter
- obstinate
- subcontrary

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: contrarie
- Root: contraire
- Root: contrārius

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

## AI Etymology
contrary is an adjective, noun, and adverb. It is from Middle English contrarie, compare French contraire, from Old French contraire, from Latin contrārius (“opposite, opposed, contrary”), from contrā (“against”). Historical forms in the chain include contrarie (Middle English), contraire (Old French), and contrārius (Latin). Current senses include completely different from or opposed to something in nature or purpose, the exact opposite of something, and deliberately doing the opposite of what is wanted; difficult to deal with. Derived forms include contrarian, contrarily, contrariness, contrarious, and contrariwise. Related words include contra, contrarian, counter, and obstinate.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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