All 25 Uses of

contrary

in

Crime and Punishment, by Dostoyevsky

This was not because he was cowardly and abject, quite the contrary; but for some time past he had been in an overstrained irritable condition, verging on hypochondria.†
Chpt 1.1

And what if there can be no respect either, if on the contrary there is aversion, contempt, repulsion, what then?†
Chpt 1.4 *

on the contrary = an expression used to intensify denial of an idea

On the contrary, as though to spite him, it throbbed more and more violently.†
Chpt 1.6

And please don't think I am doing you a service; quite the contrary, as soon as you came in, I saw how you could help me; to begin with, I am weak in spelling, and secondly, I am sometimes utterly adrift in German, so that I make it up as I go along for the most part.†
Chpt 2.2

She could give way and accept a great deal even of what was contrary to her convictions, but there was a certain barrier fixed by honesty, principle and the deepest convictions which nothing would induce her to cross.†
Chpt 3.1 *

contrary to = in opposition to

It is quite the contrary, an observation apropos of the style occurred to me that is by no means irrelevant as things stand.†
Chpt 3.3

Some, on the contrary...†
Chpt 3.5

on the contrary = an expression used to intensify denial of an idea

On the contrary, you would have seen nothing, even if you had seen it.†
Chpt 3.6

on the contrary = an expression used to intensify denial of an idea

Raskolnikov smiled sarcastically, Razumihin fidgeted, but Pyotr Petrovitch did not accept the reproof; on the contrary, at every word he became more persistent and irritable, as though he relished it.†
Chpt 4.2

Let me tell you on the contrary that you ought to show particular delicacy and consideration for us now, because we have thrown up everything, and have come here relying on you, and so we are in any case in a sense in your hands.†
Chpt 4.2

I think that's all nonsense and there's no need of softness; on the contrary, what's wanted is protest.†
Chpt 5.1

On the contrary, you'll have to answer, gentlemen, for violently obstructing the course of justice.†
Chpt 5.3

And though I shall put you in prison and indeed have come—quite contrary to etiquette—to inform you of it beforehand, yet I tell you frankly, also contrary to etiquette, that it won't be to my advantage.†
Chpt 6.2

contrary to = in opposition to

And though I shall put you in prison and indeed have come—quite contrary to etiquette—to inform you of it beforehand, yet I tell you frankly, also contrary to etiquette, that it won't be to my advantage.†
Chpt 6.2

But though I should like to be friends with you, I shan't trouble myself to convince you of the contrary.†
Chpt 6.3 *

She felt herself, on the contrary, hardly worthy to look at Dounia.†
Chpt 6.8

on the contrary = an expression used to intensify denial of an idea

On the contrary, she had her own version of her son's sudden departure; she told them with tears how he had come to say good-bye to her, hinting that she alone knew many mysterious and important facts, and that Rodya had many very powerful enemies, so that it was necessary for him to be in hiding.†
Chpt Epil.

Definitions:

(1) (contrary as in: a contrary idea)
different (perhaps opposite or mutually exclusive)

In formal logic, contrary propositions or contrary arguments describe two things that cannot both be true. They might be described as mutually exclusive. For example, a pet cannot be both a cat and a dog. It doesn't need to be either, but if it is one, it cannot be the other. So the statement that a pet is a cat and the statement that the same pet is a dog, are contrary statements.
(2) (contrary as in: a contrary personality)
disagreeable -- typically in reference to someone's personality
(3) (contrary to as in: contrary to)
in opposition to

You could also think of this as meaning, despite, or in spite of, or in conflict with; but since a common meaning of contrary is opposite, you many find it easiest to think of contrary to as in opposition to.
(4) (on the contrary as in: on the contrary)
an expression used to intensify denial of an idea

More rarely, on the contrary is used to oppose an idea contained in what was just said rather than to oppose what was literally said. Here is an example: "I will not pay you for the work. On the contrary, I may sue you for damages." Suing for damages does not oppose not paying, but it does oppose the idea of paying.
(5) (to the contrary as in: to the contrary)
with an opposite or different effect; or something with an opposite or different effect
(6) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)