Opposite vs. Contrary — What's the Difference?

Placed or located directly across from something else or from each other

Opposed, as in character or purpose

Facing the other way; moving or tending away from each other

Opposite in direction or position

Being the other of two complementary or mutually exclusive things

(Music) Moving in the opposite direction at a fixed interval

Altogether different, as in nature, quality, or significance

Adverse; unfavorable

Sharply contrasting; antithetical

(also kən-trârē) Given to recalcitrant behavior; willful or perverse.

Growing in pairs on either side of a stem

Something that is opposite or contrary.

Arranged on the same radius as another part, as stamens and petals.

Either of two opposing or contrary things

One that is opposite or contrary to another.

(Logic) A proposition related to another in such a way that if the latter is true, the former must be false, but if the latter is false, the former is not necessarily true.

An opponent or antagonist.

In an opposite direction or manner; counter

An antonym.

Opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse.

In an opposite position

Opposed; contradictory; inconsistent.

Across from or facing

Given to opposition; perverse; wayward.

In a complementary dramatic role to

Contrarily

Located directly across from something else, or from each other.

The opposite.

(botany) Of leaves and flowers, positioned directly across from each other on a stem.

(logic) One of a pair of propositions that cannot both be simultaneously true, though they may both be false.

Facing in the other direction.

(obsolete) To oppose; to frustrate.

Of either of two complementary or mutually exclusive things.

(obsolete) To impugn.

Extremely different; inconsistent; contrary; repugnant; antagonistic.

(obsolete) To contradict (someone or something).

Something opposite or contrary to something else.

(obsolete) To do the opposite of (someone or something).

A person or thing that is entirely different from or the reverse of someone or something else; used to show contrast between two people or two things.

(obsolete) To act inconsistently or perversely; to act in opposition to.

An opponent.

(obsolete) To argue; to debate; to uphold an opposite opinion.

An antonym.

(obsolete) To be self-contradictory; to become reversed.

(mathematics) An additive inverse.

Opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse; as, contrary winds.

In an opposite position.

Opposed; contradictory; repugnant; inconsistent.

Facing, or across from.

Given to opposition; perverse; forward; wayward; as, a contrary disposition; a contrary child.

In a complementary role to.

Affirming the opposite; so opposed as to destroy each other; as, contrary propositions.

(television) On another channel at the same time.

A thing that is of contrary or opposite qualities.

Placed over against; standing or situated over against or in front; facing; - often with to; as, a house opposite to the Exchange; the concert hall and the state theater stood opposite each other on the plaza.

An opponent; an enemy.

Situated on the other end of an imaginary line passing through or near the middle of an intervening space or object; - of one object with respect to another; as, the office is on the opposite side of town; - also used both to describe two objects with respect to each other; as, the stores were on opposite ends of the mall.

See Contraries.

Applied to the other of two things which are entirely different; other; as, the opposite sex; the opposite extreme; antonyms have opposite meanings.

To contradict or oppose; to thwart.

Extremely different; inconsistent; contrary; repugnant; antagonistic.

A relation of direct opposition;

Set over against each other, but separated by the whole diameter of the stem, as two leaves at the same node.

Exact opposition;

One who opposes; an opponent; an antagonist.

Two propositions are contraries if both cannot be true but both can be false

That which is opposed or contrary in character or meaning; as, sweetness and its opposite; up is the opposite of down.

Very opposed in nature or character or purpose;

Two words that express opposing concepts;

Of words or propositions so related that both cannot be true but both may be false;

A relation of direct opposition;

Resistant to guidance or discipline;

A contestant that you are matched against

In an opposing direction;

Something inverted in sequence or character or effect;

Being directly across from each other; facing;

Of leaves etc; growing in pairs on either side of a stem;

Moving or facing away from each other;

The other one of a complementary pair;

Altogether different in nature or quality or significance;

Characterized by opposite extremes; completely opposed;

Directly facing each other;