Meaning of CONTRARY
| Pronunciation: | | 'kântreree
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 WordNet Dictionary |
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- [n] two propositions are contraries if both cannot be true but both can be false
- [n] exact opposition; "public opinion to the contrary he is not guilty"
- [n] a relation of direct opposition; "we thought Sue was older than Bill but just the reverse was true"
- [adj] in an opposing direction; "adverse currents"; "a contrary wind"
- [adj] resistant to guidance or discipline; "Mary Mary quite contrary"; "an obstinate child with a violent temper"; "a perverse mood"; "wayward behavior"
- [adj] very opposed in nature or character or purpose; "acts contrary to our code of ethics"; "the facts point to a contrary conclusion"
- [adj] of words so related that both cannot be true but both may be false; "`hot' and `cold' are contrary terms"
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| | Synonyms: | | adverse, antonymous, different, disobedient, obstinate, opposite, perverse, reverse, unfavorable, unfavourable, wayward |
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| | See Also: | | logical relation, oppositeness, opposition | |
| Webster's 1913 Dictionary |
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\Con"tra*ry\ (? or ?; 48), a. [OE. contrarie,
contraire, F. contraire, fr. L. contrarius, fr. contra. See
{Contra-}.]
1. Opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition;
adverse; as, contrary winds.
And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not
hearken unto me. --Lev. xxvi.
21.
We have lost our labor; they are gone a contrary
way. --Shak.
2. Opposed; contradictory; repugnant; inconsistent.
Fame, if not double-faced, is double mouthed, And
with contrary blast proclaims most deeds. --Milton.
The doctrine of the earth's motion appeared to be
contrary to the sacred Scripture. --Whewell.
3. Given to opposition; perverse; forward; wayward; as, a
contrary disposition; a contrary child.
4. (Logic) Affirming the opposite; so opposed as to destroy
each other; as, contrary propositions.
{Contrary motion} (Mus.), the progression of parts in
opposite directions, one ascending, the other descending.
Syn: Adverse; repugnant; hostile; inimical; discordant;
inconsistent.
\Con"tra*ry\, n.; pl. {Contraries}.
1. A thing that is of contrary or opposite qualities.
No contraries hold more antipathy Than I and such a
knave. --Shak.
2. An opponent; an enemy. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
3. the opposite; a proposition, fact, or condition
incompatible with another; as, slender proofs which rather
show the contrary. See {Converse}, n., 1. --Locke.
4. (Logic) See {Contraries}.
{On the contrary}, in opposition; on the other hand. --Swift.
{To the contrary}, to an opposite purpose or intent; on the
other side. ``They did it, not for want of instruction to
the contrary.'' --Bp. Stillingfleet.
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| Thesaurus Terms |
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| | Related Terms: | | abjuratory, abnegative, adversary, adversative, adverse, adversive, alien, antagonistic, anti, antipathetic, antipodal, antipode, antipodean, antipodes, antipole, antithesis, antithetic, antithetical, antonym, antonymous, argumentative, assorted, at cross-purposes, at loggerheads, at odds, at opposite extremes, at variance, at war, awkward, back to back, bad, balancing, balky, bulky, cantankerous, choking, clashing, clumsy, compensating, competitive, con, conflicting, confounding, confronting, confutative, confuting, constrictive, contra, contradicting, contradictory, contradistinct, contrapositive, contrarily, contrarious, contrariwise, contrasted, contrasting, contrawise, contumacious, converse, conversely, counter, counteractive, counterbalance, counterbalancing, countercheck, counterpoint, counterpoise, counterpoised, counterpole, counterproductive, counterterm, countervailing, cranky, cross, cross-grained, crosswise, cumbersome, dead against, denying, departing, detrimental, deviant, deviating, deviative, different, differentiated, differing, difficult, disaccordant, disaffirming, disagreeable, disagreeing, disallowing, disavowing, disclaiming, discordant, discrepant, discrete, discriminated, disharmonious, disjoined, disowning, disparate, disproportionate, dissentient, dissenting, dissident, dissimilar, dissonant, distinct, distinguished, divergent, diverging, divers, diverse, diversified, enemy, eyeball to eyeball, face to face, foil, foul, fractious, froward, grating, hard, harmful, headstrong, heterogeneous, hindering, hindersome, hostile, hulking, hulky, immiscible, impractical, in disagreement, in opposition, in opposition to, in the way, inaccordant, inauspicious, incompatible, incongruous, inconsistent, inconsonant, inconvenient, inharmonious, inhibiting, inhibitive, inimical, inopportune, insubordinate, interrupting, interruptive, intractable, inverse, irascible, irreconcilable, jangling, jarring, just opposite, many, miserable, motley, multifarious, negative, negatory, nonconformable, nonconforming, nonconformist, noncooperative, nonobservant, nose to nose, not easy, obstinate, obstructing, obstructive, obstruent, obverse, occlusive, offset, opponent, opposed, opposing, opposite, opposite number, oppositely, oppositional, oppositive, oppugnant, ornery, out of accord, out of whack, overthwart, perverse, perversely, polar, poles apart, poles asunder, ponderous, rebellious, recalcitrant, recanting, recusant, refractory, refutative, refutatory, refuting, renunciative, renunciatory, repressive, repudiative, repugnant, restive, restrictive, reverse, revocative, revocatory, rigorous, rival, self-willed, separate, separated, setoff, several, sinister, squared off, stifling, strangling, stressful, stubborn, stuffy, sulky, sullen, suppressive, the contrary, the other side, troublesome, troublous, trying, unaccommodating, unadaptable, unadjustable, uncompliant, unconformable, unconforming, uncongenial, uncooperative, unequal, unfavorable, unfortunate, unfriendly, unhandy, unharmonious, unlike, unlucky, unmanageable, unpropitious, unruly, unsubmissive, untoward, unwieldy, variant, varied, variegated, various, varying, vice versa, vis-a-vis, wayward, widely apart, worlds apart, wretched, wrongheaded |
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