CONTRARY: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for CONTRARY?

Need another word that means the same as “contrary”? Find 37 synonyms and 30 related words for “contrary” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Contrary” are: adverse, obstinate, perverse, wayward, opposite, opposing, opposed, contradictory, clashing, conflicting, antithetical, incompatible, irreconcilable, awkward, difficult, uncooperative, unhelpful, obstructive, disobliging, unaccommodating, unreasonable, troublesome, tiresome, annoying, vexatious, disobedient, recalcitrant, refractory, wilful, headstrong, self-willed, capricious, cross-grained, reverse, converse, antithesis

Contrary as a Noun

Definitions of "Contrary" as a noun

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “contrary” as a noun can have the following definitions:

• The opposite.
• A contrary proposition.
• A relation of direct opposition.
• Exact opposition.
• A logical relation such that two propositions are contraries if both cannot be true but both can be false.

Synonyms of "Contrary" as a noun (4 Words)

antithesis	A contrast or opposition between two things. The antithesis between occult and rational mentalities.
converse	A proposition obtained by conversion. It will be difficult in these converses not to talk of secular matter.
opposite	A word that expresses a meaning opposed to the meaning of another word, in which case the two words are antonyms of each other. We were opposites in temperament.
reverse	The gears by which the motion of a machine can be reversed. He didn t feel homesick quite the reverse.

Usage Examples of "Contrary" as a noun

• Public opinion to the contrary he is not guilty.
• An Act applies only to the United Kingdom unless the contrary is expressed.

Contrary as an Adjective

Definitions of "Contrary" as an adjective

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “contrary” as an adjective can have the following definitions:

• Perversely inclined to disagree or to do the opposite of what is expected or desired.
• In an opposing direction.
• Resistant to guidance or discipline.
• (of two or more statements, beliefs, etc.) opposed to one another.
• (of a wind) blowing in the opposite direction to one's course; unfavourable.
• (of two propositions) so related that one or neither but not both must be true.
• Very opposed in nature or character or purpose.
• Opposite in nature, direction, or meaning.
• Of words or propositions so related that both cannot be true but both may be false.

Synonyms of "Contrary" as an adjective (33 Words)

adverse	Contrary to your interests or welfare. Adverse weather conditions.
annoying	Causing irritation or annoyance. Tapping an annoying rhythm on his glass with his fork.
antithetical	Sharply contrasted in character or purpose. People whose religious beliefs are antithetical to mine.
awkward	Not smooth or graceful; ungainly. An awkward gesture.
capricious	Determined by chance or impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason. A capricious climate.
clashing	Sharply and harshly discordant. Suits in clashing colours.
conflicting	In disagreement. Conflicting opinions.
contradictory	Unable to be both true at the same time. Politically he exhibited contradictory behaviour.
cross-grained	Difficult to deal with.
difficult	(of a person) not easy to please or satisfy; awkward. Nesting places on the cliffs are difficult of access.
disobedient	Unwilling to submit to authority. Disobedient children.
disobliging	Unkind. Disobliging remarks about colleagues.
headstrong	Energetically wilful and determined. The headstrong impulsiveness of youth.
incompatible	(of one thing or person) not consistent or able to coexist with (another. Incompatible personalities.
irreconcilable	Incapable of being resolved. These two views of the economy are irreconcilable.
obstinate	Stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion or chosen course of action, despite attempts to persuade one to do so. An obstinate child with a violent temper.
obstructive	Preventing movement. All tubing should be cleared of obstructive algae and detritus.
opposed	(of two or more things) contrasting or conflicting with each other. The agency is being asked to do two diametrically opposed things.
opposing	(of two or more subjects) differing from or in conflict with each other. The opposing team.
opposite	Characterized by opposite extremes completely opposed. They went in opposite directions.
perverse	Marked by a disposition to oppose and contradict. A perverse mood.
recalcitrant	Marked by stubborn resistance to authority. A class of recalcitrant fifteen year olds.
refractory	Resistant to a process or stimulus. Turkeys can be infected when young but are refractory as adults.
self-willed	Habitually disposed to disobedience and opposition.
tiresome	Causing one to feel bored or annoyed. The tiresome chirping of a cricket.
troublesome	Causing difficulty or annoyance. Schools are removing troublesome pupils.
unaccommodating	Not accommodating. The unaccommodating bus driver pulled out while she was banging on the door.
uncooperative	Intentionally unaccommodating. An uncooperative witness.
unhelpful	Not helpful. Several complained that the staff were unhelpful.
unreasonable	Beyond the limits of acceptability or fairness. She knew she was being unreasonable but she resented his domesticity.
vexatious	Causing irritation or annoyance. A frivolous or vexatious litigant.
wayward	Resistant to guidance or discipline. Wayward behavior.
wilful	Having or showing a stubborn and determined intention to do as one wants, regardless of the consequences. Wilful acts of damage.

Usage Examples of "Contrary" as an adjective

• His mother had given him contrary messages.
• Acts contrary to our code of ethics.
• The facts point to a contrary conclusion.
• A contrary wind.
• He ignored contrary advice and agreed on the deal.
• Mary Mary quite contrary.
• She is sulky and contrary where her work is concerned.
• `hot' and `cold' are contrary terms.

Associations of "Contrary" (30 Words)

ambivalence	Mixed feelings or emotions. Government ambivalence towards the arts.
anachronism	A thing belonging or appropriate to a period other than that in which it exists, especially a thing that is conspicuously old-fashioned. The town is a throwback to medieval times an anachronism that has survived the passing years.
antithesis	(in Hegelian philosophy) the negation of the thesis as the second stage in the process of dialectical reasoning. Love is the antithesis of selfishness.
conflicting	Incompatible or at variance; contradictory. There are conflicting accounts of what occurred.
contradiction	A statement that is necessarily false. The statement he is brave and he is not brave is a contradiction.
contradictory	A contradictory proposition. Politically he exhibited contradictory behaviour.
converse	A proposition obtained by conversion. It will be difficult in these converses not to talk of secular matter.
discrepant	Not in agreement. Widely discrepant statements.
disobedient	Unwilling to submit to authority. Disobedient children.
dissentient	Refusing to attend services of the Church of England. Dissentient voices were castigated as hopeless bureaucrats.
dissonant	Lacking in harmony. Jackson employs both harmonious and dissonant colour choices.
enemy	A personal enemy. This man was her sworn enemy.
incompatible	(of equipment, computer programs, etc.) not capable of being used in combination. All four prototype camcorders used special tapes and were incompatible with each other.
inconsistency	The relation between propositions that cannot both be true at the same time. The inconsistency between his expressed attitudes and his actual behaviour.
inexplicable	Incapable of being explained or accounted for. Left the house at three in the morning for inexplicable reasons.
inharmonious	Lacking in harmony of parts. An inharmonious negative state of mind.
ironic	Humorously sarcastic or mocking. An ironical smile.
irony	Incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs. The irony is that I thought he could help me.
oppose	Fight against or resist strongly. A majority of the electorate opposed EC membership.
opposing	Facing; opposite. The brothers fought on opposing sides in the war.
opposite	Of leaves or shoots arising in pairs at the same level on opposite sides of the stem. Opposite meanings.
outmaneuver	Defeat by more skillful maneuvering. My new supervisor knows how to outmaneuver the boss in most situations.
oxymoron	Conjoining contradictory terms (as in `deafening silence.
paradox	A seemingly absurd or contradictory statement or proposition which when investigated may prove to be well founded or true. Cathedrals face the paradox of having enormous wealth in treasures but huge annual expenses.
paradoxical	Seemingly contradictory but nonetheless possibly true. It is paradoxical that standing is more tiring than walking.
perverse	(of a verdict) against the weight of evidence or the direction of the judge on a point of law. Took perverse satisfaction in foiling her plans.
refractive	Capable of changing the direction (of a light or sound wave. The refractive characteristics of the eye.
refractory	Temporarily unresponsive or not fully responsive to nervous or sexual stimuli. Healing of previously refractory ulcers.
sarcasm	The use of irony to mock or convey contempt. She didn t like the note of sarcasm in his voice.
wayward	Resistant to guidance or discipline. A wayward adolescent.