Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

on the contrary

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.17 in modern English

Syllables: on the -con-trary
IPA

21

Scrabble Score

13

Letters

3

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

prep_phrase

Opposite of what had earlier been expected or assumed; to the contrary.

Example Sentences

"Many persons have an idea that a habitually dark room is best for the eyes. On the contrary, it weakens them and renders them permanently unable to bear the light of the sun."
"Even if they managed to strike Japan, the United States or South Korea with nuclear weapons — a big if, given that they do not have a reliable delivery system — they could not save themselves from ultimate defeat. On the contrary, the use of nuclear or other terror weapons would be certain to invite overwhelming retaliation, delivering North Korea’s decision makers to a fiery oblivion."

Phrases

to the contrary

Frequently Paired Words

to the contrary

Synonyms

au contraire if anything far from it per contra contrariwise contrarily to the contrary

Questions

What does on the contrary mean?: Opposite of what had earlier been expected or assumed; to the contrary.

How to pronounce on the contrary

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