adj. 1 opposite, opposing, opposed, different, contradictory, conflicting, antagonistic Set aside enough time to hear the contrary side of the argument 2 antagonistic, perverse, contrarious, hostile, unfriendly, inimical, cross-grained, refractory, contumacious, self-willed, argumentative, unaccommodating, antipathetic, Literary froward He can disagree, but why must he be so contrary? 3 adverse, unfavourable, inauspicious, unlucky, unfortunate, unpropitious, untoward, inopportune, bad, foul We ran into contrary winds and were delayed
n. 4 opposite, reverse Her present position is the direct contrary of the one she took yesterday
adv. 5 perversely, oppositely, contrariwise, contrarily, in opposition to The rat in the maze acted contrary to the expected pattern