Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

contrary

/ˈkɑntɹɛɹi/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.17 in modern English

Syllables: con-trary
IPA: /ˈkɑntɹɛɹi/

13

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

3

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse.

adj

Opposed; contradictory; inconsistent.

adj

Given to opposition; perverse; wayward.

adv

noun

noun

One of a pair of propositions that cannot both be simultaneously true, though they may both be false.

noun

A type of loaded die.

verb

To oppose; to frustrate.

Obsolete

Example Sentences

"contrary winds"
"And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me[…]"
"We have lost our labour; they are gone a contrary way."
"Galileo [Galilei]'s zeal for his opinions soon led him again to bring the question under the notice of the Pope, and the result was a declaration of the Inquisition that the doctrine of the earth's motion appeared to be contrary to the sacred scripture."
"a contrary disposition; a contrary child"
"I never act contrary to my principles."

Etymology

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

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: contrarie, contraire, contrārius

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈkɑntɹɛɹi/
British English: /ˈkɒntɹəɹi/

Usage

Obsolete

Inflected Forms

more contrary (comparative) most contrary (superlative) contraries (plural) contraries (present, singular) contrarying (participle, present) contraried (participle, past) contraried (past)

Derived Forms

contrarian contrarily contrariness contrarious contrariwise

Phrases

canon by contrary motion contrary to contrary to all expectations by contraries on the contrary quite the contrary to the contrary

Frequently Paired Words

obstinate subcontrary contrarian contra counter

Synonyms

against the grain at cross purposes contradictory contrariant contrarious contrary counter cross disagreeable opposed opposing refractory

Antonyms

cooperative synergistic unopposed

Questions

How do you pronounce contrary?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈkɑntɹɛɹi/.
What does contrary mean?: Opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse.
Where does contrary come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce contrary

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “contrary”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈkɑntɹɛɹi/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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