How to Use contrary in a Sentence

contrary

1 of 2 noun
Definition of contrarynext
Synonyms for contrarynext
  • To make a statement to the contrary is a false statement.
    — Dylan McGuinness, ExpressNews.com, 18 July 2019
  • To the contrary, our goal is to be a platform for all ideas.
    — Drew Broach, NOLA.com, 7 May 2018
  • On the contrary, Dixon views them as a chance to break out.
    — Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 22 Nov. 2022
  • To the contrary, the two were teammates for two seasons and part of a third.
    — Gary Peterson, The Mercury News, 9 July 2019
  • On the contrary, Harold was still strong in the muscle of joy.
    — Nicole Krauss, Harper's Magazine, 24 Nov. 2020
  • To the contrary, people will pay more to wear what works for them.
    — Tom Teicholz, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2021
  • On the contrary, the rate of river time is in constant flux.
    — Jonathon Keats, Forbes, 31 Aug. 2021
  • On the contrary, most of us love their sweet yet grassy flavor.
    — Susan Russo, sandiegouniontribune.com, 2 May 2017
  • On the contrary, the whole point is that business on its own can make the world a better place.
    — Geoff Colvin, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2020
  • And no evidence to the contrary is going to change your mind.
    — Brian Straus, SI.com, 30 June 2018
  • On the contrary, the team set scoring records from their opening match.
    — Liz Clarke, The Denver Post, 15 Aug. 2019
  • Despite the cliché to the contrary, there are plenty of bad questions.
    — Marcello Fiocco, The Conversation, 2 Nov. 2020
  • On the contrary, the loss marked the low point of the 49ers’ season.
    — Michael Lerseth, San Francisco Chronicle, 18 Sep. 2021
  • Despite claims to the contrary, the pandemic is not over.
    — Jay Baruch, STAT, 10 Nov. 2022
  • On the contrary, more women will be trapped in poverty.
    — Vangela M. Wade, Time, 17 May 2022
  • On the contrary, people stopped to listen, or gave him a thumbs up.
    — Ann Scott Tyson, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 May 2020
  • On the contrary, Allen will have known this day was coming.
    — Zach Osterman, Indianapolis Star, 2 Mar. 2020
  • On the contrary, we as men should be embracing that more.
    — Mikelle Street, Teen Vogue, 13 Aug. 2018
  • But so far, crypto price action points to the contrary.
    — Dan Runkevicius, Forbes, 13 May 2022
  • On the contrary, the tide lately has been in the other direction.
    — Caleb Crain, The New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2019
  • Even his own campaign’s polling data to the contrary could not sway him.
    — New York Times, 31 Dec. 2020
  • Any claim to the contrary is false and without foundation.
    — Maria Pasquini, PEOPLE.com, 24 Aug. 2019
  • Mike Brown might be right, even as the evidence mounts to the contrary.
    — Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, 2 Sep. 2017
  • On the contrary — you'll be remembered as a man who stood by change.
    — Sydni Ellis, Peoplemag, 12 Oct. 2022
  • This does not mean staying silent — on the contrary, be sincere.
    — Loubna Noureddin, Forbes, 5 Oct. 2021
  • But, Stover wrote, a search of her phone found evidence to the contrary.
    — Monivette Cordeiro, orlandosentinel.com, 1 Apr. 2022
  • The school's own report proved it (despite them saying to the contrary).
    — Mike Freeman, USA TODAY, 10 Mar. 2021
  • The authors do not cite anywhere where Atlas made claims to the contrary.
    — Joel M. Zinberg, National Review, 16 Sep. 2020
  • On the contrary, your day to day is full of moments that empower you as a woman.
    — Leila Cobo, Billboard, 7 May 2022
  • On the contrary, for the first time in well over a decade, Brazil looked like a vibrant modern side.
    — Jonathan Wilson, SI.com, 7 July 2018
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contrary

2 of 2 adjective
  • The boat sailed against a contrary wind.
  • We had contrary opinions on the issue.
  • Without contrary evidence, the jury will find her guilty.
  • Contrary weather impeded the rescue efforts.
  • But, contrary to what some may think, wild parsnip is not.
    — Donna Vickroy, Daily Southtown, 28 July 2017
  • Vendor wars to the contrary, tamales were not solely street food.
    — David Reamer, Anchorage Daily News, 7 June 2021
  • And contrary, to the post's claim, endowments are taxed.
    — Hannah Hudnall, USA TODAY, 28 Sep. 2022
  • Do your own research and your own thinking, and don’t be afraid to have a contrary view.
    — Dallas News, 28 Mar. 2021
  • But those facts have not stopped contrary claims from spreading both on and offline.
    — Emma Frances Bloomfield, The Conversation, 17 Mar. 2020
  • False and misleading narratives to the contrary need to stop.
    — Dakin Andone, CNN, 14 Jan. 2021
  • On the contrary, much of this is domestic and almost all of this is legal.
    — Robin Kaiser-Schatzlein, The New Republic, 22 June 2021
  • The three-cueing system is one of those contrary practices.
    — The Indianapolis Star, 26 July 2023
  • That was the biggest decision, because that was the most contrary.
    — Devan Coggan, EW.com, 22 Apr. 2022
  • Contrary to myth, talking about suicide cannot plant the idea in someone’s head.
    — Linda Blackwell Simmons, star-telegram, 23 Aug. 2017
  • There is simply no contrary view of the war to be seen or heard in Russia's mass media.
    — Jill Dougherty, CNN, 3 Apr. 2022
  • Your best friend or business partner might refuse to do your bidding, just to be contrary.
    — Tarot Astrologers, chicagotribune.com, 16 Aug. 2020
  • Musk’s claims to the contrary point to an increasingly unstable house of cards.
    — David Trainer, Forbes, 27 Jan. 2022
  • Nor does the tape show, contrary to many press reports, that the safety of any cast member was ever in jeopardy.
    — Lisa Gutierrez, kansascity, 27 June 2017
  • Lincoln did this to foster debate and weigh contrary opinions.
    — Brendan Ahern, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2023
  • Almost every teen wants to trust adults and tell them the truth; assume that of your stepson, even in the face of contrary evidence.
    — Meghan Leahy, Washington Post, 10 May 2023
  • Thomas was unconvinced and said the court would not be so accepting of a contrary assertion by a college.
    — Tyler Olson, Fox News, 31 Oct. 2022
  • It was driven by a very contrary woman, and Mike Tyson was in the passenger seat.
    — Pat Myers, Washington Post, 14 July 2022
  • Meanwhile, news from the labor market offers a weak contrary signal at most.
    — Milton Ezrati, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2022
  • But there are more than a few areas in which the two men, using the same approaches, reached contrary conclusions.
    — Adam Liptak, New York Times, 15 June 2023
  • There are contrary examples of coaches who are more patient.
    — Ryan Young, ajc, 8 Nov. 2017
  • On the contrary, long nails are trending this winter; a look rarely achieved without enhancement.
    — Taylore Glynn, Marie Claire, 10 Dec. 2020
  • Now some people have written contrary assessments to that.
    — CBS News, 13 Oct. 2021
  • While redheads have less melanin in their skin, contrary to popular belief, not all of them have freckles.
    — Lauren Valenti, Marie Claire, 31 Mar. 2017
  • There will always be those who refuse to appreciate the finer things in life, almost in an effort to be contrary.
    — Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2021
  • Logan, the manager, was eager to engage with anyone who had a contrary view.
    — Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2021

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'contrary.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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