contraryin a sentencegrouped by contextual meaning
contrary as in: a contrary idea
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The facts point to a contrary conclusion.
contrary = different (perhaps opposite or mutually exclusive)
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We're trying to choose between two contrary solutions.contrary = different
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I'm getting contrary messages.contrary = different (perhaps opposite or mutually exclusive)
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I take issue with anyone who says the contrary.
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Early the next morning a contrary breeze came whistling along the river. (source)contrary = opposite
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Contrarily, they were also the eyes of a zealot whose blind dedication was the core of his strength; white heat was in the pupils, lightning in the orbs.† (source)Contrarily = in a manner that has an opposite or different effect
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Alessandro had contrary and volatile opinions and did a good job of justifying them even when they were totally absurd. (source)contrary = opposite
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Contrarily, I do not think all of you are insane.† (source)Contrarily = in a manner that has an opposite or different effect
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Napoleon was well aware of the bad results that might follow if the real facts of the food situation were known, and he decided to make use of Mr. Whymper to spread a contrary impression. (source)contrary = different
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Contrarily, I listened harder.† (source)Contrarily = in a manner that has an opposite or different effect
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Impossible to reply to this in the affirmative: my little world held a contrary opinion: I was silent. (source)contrary = different
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Is there anything you dislike in me that you act so contrarily to my wishes?† (source)contrarily = in a manner that has an opposite or different effect
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The two ladies continued to talk, to re-urge the same admitted truths, and enforce them with such examples of the ill effect of a contrary practice as had fallen within their observation, but Anne heard nothing distinctly; it was only a buzz of words in her ear, her mind was in confusion. (source)contrary = different (the opposite of what is recommended)
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"Yes, both the ride—and you," flashed Carley, contrarily.† (source)contrarily = in a manner that has an opposite or different effect
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contrary as in: a contrary personality
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She has a contrary personality.
contrary = disagreeable
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She just said it to be contrary.
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We were hoping to make better time, but we had to battle a contrary wind.contrary = disagreeable (the wind was blowing in the opposite direction of travel)
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She'd have spent the rest of her life on it and died without so much agony, but she was too contrary- (source)contrary = disagreeable
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Lizabetha Prokofievna, who disliked Varvara, although she had a great respect for her mother, was much annoyed by this sudden intimacy, and put it down to the general "contrariness" of her daughters, who were "always on the lookout for some new way of opposing her." (source)contrariness = disagreeablenessstandard suffix: The suffix "-ness" converts an adjective to a noun that means the quality of. This is the same pattern you see in words like darkness, kindness, and coolness.
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She's contrary as a very witch herself. (source)contrary = disagreeable
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I suspected there was probably a large dose of natural contrariness in his decision—nobody expected him to go, probably least of all Alicia and Rupert themselves.† (source)contrariness = disagreeableness
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"Later," Alessandro said, since part of his business was to be contrary. (source)contrary = disagreeable
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Quite often social contrariness and a generally pessimistic outlook are observed.† (source)contrariness = disagreeableness
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Beyond Cologne we descended to the plains of Holland; and we resolved to post the remainder of our way, for the wind was contrary and the stream of the river was too gentle to aid us. (source)contrary = disagreeable (not blowing as desired)
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As any parent of a teenage child will tell you, the essential contrariness of adolescents suggests that the more adults inveigh against smoking and lecture teenagers about its dangers, the more teens, paradoxically, will want to try it.† (source)contrariness = disagreeableness
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"You contrary rascal!" the prince exploded. (source)contrary = disagreeable
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My contrariness kept Char laughing, and his goodness kept me in love.† (source)contrariness = disagreeableness
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Contrary as a mule! (source)Contrary = disagreeable
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contrary to as in: contrary to
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Contrary to popular belief, the largest pyramid is in Mexico--not Egypt.
contrary to = in opposition to
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We will not allow members to act contrary to our code of ethics.
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Contrary to my usual practice, I'm going to write you a detailed description of the food situation, since it's become a matter of some difficulty and importance, not only here in the Annex, but in all of Holland, all of Europe and even beyond. (source)Contrary to = opposite
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how could he mean to behave this way, contrary to the principle that had always governed his treatment of others--his sense of decency. (source)contrary to = in opposition to
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Contrary to his expectations, he neither talked to himself nor sang. (source)Contrary to = in opposition to
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At that moment Corin ran up to Shasta, seized his hand and started dragging him towards King Lune. "Here he is, Father, here he is," cried Corin. "Aye, and here thou art, at last," said the King in a very gruff voice. "And hast been in the battle, clean contrary to your obedience." (source)
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Napoleon had denounced such ideas as contrary to the spirit of Animalism. (source)
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With this I have gone far ahead and, contrary to my actual plan and intention, already conveyed what Haller essentially meant to me; whereas my original aim was to uncover his picture by degrees while telling the course of my gradual acquaintance with him. (source)
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We sometimes have strange, impossible dreams, contrary to all the laws of nature. (source)
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I DO see a certain justice; but it is contrary to all custom. (source)
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I asked him if he didn't know it was contrary to law; and that slaves were whipped and imprisoned for teaching each other to read. (source)
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A name that I am so very well acquainted with; knew the gentleman so well by sight; seen him a hundred times; came to consult me once, I remember, about a trespass of one of his neighbours; farmer's man breaking into his orchard; wall torn down; apples stolen; caught in the fact; and afterwards, contrary to my judgement, submitted to an amicable compromise. (source)
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As the minuteness of the parts formed a great hindrance to my speed, I resolved, contrary to my first intention, to make the being of a gigantic stature, that is to say, about eight feet in height, and proportionably large. (source)contrary to = opposite or different
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It is to be noted that the contributions to this building being made by people of different sects, care was taken in the nomination of trustees, in whom the building and ground was to be vested, that a predominancy should not be given to any sect, lest in time that predominancy might be a means of appropriating the whole to the use of such sect, contrary to the original intention. (source)contrary to = in opposition to
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on the contrary as in: on the contrary
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She was not smiling. On the contrary, she frowned.
on the contrary = an expression used to intensify denial of an idea
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I will not pay you for the work. On the contrary, I may sue you for damages.
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What do you mean, he's gone crazy? On the contrary, he's the sanest person I know. (source)
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...but this didn't soothe Ron at all. On the contrary, he sat bolt upright and broke into a sweat. (source)
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On the contrary, he felt his original views were correct: that a lizard species had been driven from the forest into a new habitat, and was coming into contact with village people. (source)On the contrary = an expression used to intensify denial of an idea
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Still, I don't want to moan and groan. On the contrary, I want to be brave! (source)
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You yourself don't seem to trust your gift... On the contrary, I think you are a master of your craft, and I can scarcely wait for you to give us another taste of your skill at long last. (source)
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Trees grew along both sides of the road home, making it very dark and dangerous for anyone who wasn't used to it. But Stanley had no fears. On the contrary, he loved the night. (source)
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"On the contrary, your Majesty," said the Dwarf. (source)
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"On the contrary" I said, "only I know how long I have been here." (source)
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'On the contrary,' he said, 'you have not controlled it.' (source)
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"No one has ever seen such a pearl." "On the contrary," said the dealer, "it is large and clumsy." (source)
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On the contrary, it was often exceedingly painful, often almost intolerable. (source)
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He is not at all angry, I assure you; on the contrary, he is surprised that you could suppose so. (source)
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to the contrary as in: to the contrary
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What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say to the contrary.
the contrary = with an opposite or different effect
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No matter what anyone says to the contrary, I heard him say it.
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Unless I hear to the contrary, I will meet you outside the theatre at eight.the contrary = something with an opposite or different effect
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Sometimes he told himself he had heard no such thing, and sometimes he was so convinced to the contrary that he called out into the darkness, "Is someone out there?" (source)the contrary = of the opposite
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He constructed a rigid system that said that a young black man in a car running from the police had to be a dangerous criminal, and all evidence to the contrary that would ordinarily have been factored into his thinking—the fact that Russ was just sitting in his car and that he had never gone above seventy miles per hour—did not register at all. (source)the contrary = with an opposite or different effect
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Despite his statements to the contrary after the mule-barn incident, Roy Lee was still with us. (source)the contrary = with an opposite effect
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Without asking their opinion, Severo made them marry, and, despite the predictions to the contrary of Nivea and her friends, they were very happy. (source)the contrary = of the opposite
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They could do this despite the evidence to the contrary around them: the doctors and medics with their surgical instruments and their operating tables ready to be set up on the beaches. (source)the contrary = with an opposite effect
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Adams's supposition that Jefferson was cutting back on his extravagant ways was, however, mistaken. To the contrary, the Virginian had resolved to live in grander style than ever, and plunged into the largest, most costly project of his life. (source)
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To the contrary: His life hummed with meaning and purpose.† (source)
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He gave me besides a great bag holding all of the contrary winds, so they could not trouble us.† (source)
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Children believe that everything bad that happens is somehow their fault, and in this I was no exception; but they also believe in happy endings, despite all evidence to the contrary, and I was no exception in that either.† (source)
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If he looked into the strobed rain too long, he ended up curled and oblivious, for if there was no figure to be seen in the falling drops of water, he felt abandoned, and if he saw anything—a shape, a movement, a form—he screamed, silently, despite all resolution to the contrary.† (source)
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For some reason, many Americans began to think that all Iranians, despite outward appearances to the contrary, could at any given moment get angry and take prisoners.† (source)
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