contrary.

1. Opposed to or inconsistent with something else.

2. Inclined to resist, contradict, or oppose others, sometimes perversely.

3. The opposite of a statement, position, or expectation.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• contrary evidence
• contrary to expectation

On the page

Contrary evidence emerged after the verdict had been announced.

The house was warm, contrary to everything the travelers had been told.

Usage notes

Primary category: literary. Forms: Comparative more contrary; superlative most contrary where gradation is meaningful. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings.