Contrary synonyms
Category:
Part of speech:
Contending or acting against; as, antagonistic forces.
In opposition; adverse; unfavorable
Not yielding to treatment, as a disease
(By extension) Difficult to deal with; contrary or troublesome.
unfavorable (related)
Not favorable
Advertisement
Unfavorable; inauspicious:
(Archaic, of things) Harmful, vexatious.
just the opposite
Feeling abhorrence
absonant
(Now rare) Discordant; harsh; contrary; unreasonable. [First attested in the mid 16th century.]
(Geology) of a differing type of rock cutting across a formation
Advertisement
(Appalachian) Cantankerous, stubborn, disagreeable.
Seemingly full of contradictions
Of, relating to, or characteristic of a rebel or rebellion:
The definition of headstrong is someone who is stubborn, likes things his own way, imposes his opinion or is unyielding in his opinions and beliefs.
Pertaining to antithesis, or opposition of words and sentiments; containing, or of the nature of, antithesis; contrasted.
Opposite
Advertisement
Coming, said, done, etc. before the usual or expected time; premature
(Not comparable) Opposite; confronting.
That contradicts something, such as an argument.
Hard to handle, treat, or deal with; intractable
Difficult to operate or start:
The definition of restive is someone who feels nervous when criticized or controlled, or a person or animal that stubbornly refuses to move forward.
Advertisement
The definition of willful is someone or something that does what they want, or something done on purpose.
Of, pertaining to, or exhibiting opposition
Note: Cantankerous is generally used to describe an unpleasant elderly person in a slightly pejorative manner. However, the term can be used to people in general, livestock, and machinery as well.
(Obs.) Adverse
A thing related in a converse way; the opposite
Advertisement
A contrast or opposition
against (related)
Opposed
obstinate (related)
The definition of obstinate is extremely stubborn and determined to have your own way.
contrast (related)
(Linguistics) A difference between units, especially one that distinguishes meaning.
The definition of ambivalent is someone who is uncertain or lacks the ability to make decisions.
Diametrically opposed; exactly opposite.
Advertisement
The definition of averse is having a feeling of distaste or strong opposition.
Striking, or dashing together; fighting; contending; struggling to resist and overcome.
contradictious
(Obsolete) Inclined to contradict or cavil.
Designating an opposite, a contrary, a difference, etc. that is wholly so; complete
Hard to get along with; quarrelsome
Showing difference; inconsistent, dissimilar.
Inclined to make trouble; unruly.
Advertisement
Impossible to be held simultaneously by one person:
Of an assertion, that is contradictory or not supported.
Difficult to mold or manipulate:
nonconforming
That does not conform, either to the rules of an established church, or to official regulations
Opposite in character, nature, direction, etc.
The definition of repugnant is something that is extremely offensive, contradictory or antagonistic.
Advertisement
Going into effect as of a specified date in the past
(Botany) Reversed.
The southern hemisphere
Something that is contrary.
alike (antonym)
Having close resemblance; similar:
like (antonym)
Having almost or exactly the same qualities, characteristics, etc.; similar; equal
similar (antonym)
Having a resemblance in appearance or nature; alike though not identical.
Advertisement
agreeing (antonym)
antagonistic; opposite
harmonious (antonym)
Having similar or conforming feelings, ideas, interests, etc.; in accord
correspondent (antonym)
(With to or with) Conforming; obedient.
concordant (antonym)
Harmonious; agreeing.
homogeneous (antonym)
Of the same or similar nature or kind:
obliging (antonym)
Ready to do favors for others; accommodating.
accommodating (antonym)
Affording, or disposed to afford, accommodation; obliging; helpful; as an accommodating man, spirit, arrangement.
Advertisement
Of, or being an antonym
Not easy to please, satisfy, or manage:
Unacceptable; intolerable:
Something directly opposite or diametrically opposed
A proposition derived by negating and permuting the terms of another, equivalent proposition; for example, All not-Y is not-X is the contrapositive of All X is Y.
support (related)
Providing or having to do with support
attitude (related)
Given to acting in opposition to others
nonconformable
Not conformable.
nonobservant
Not observant; not religious; not participating in the observance of religion.
unadjustable
Not adjustable; that cannot be adjusted.
contrary-to (related)
contradict (related)
at-variance-with (related)
Lacking popularity
Synonym Study
- Balky implies a stopping short and stubbornly refusing to go on See also syn. study at opposite.
- Restive is applied to those who are impatient under restraint or discipline and hence are hard to control or keep in order
- Perverse implies an unreasonable obstinacy in deviating from what is considered right or acceptable
- Contrary , in this comparison, implies a habitual willful disinclination to accept orders, advice, etc.
Find another word for contrary. In this page you can discover 89 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for contrary, like: antagonistic, inimical, refractory, pigheaded, cross-grained, unfavorable, hostile, unpropitious, contrarious, just the opposite and opposite.