contrariety

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "contrariety" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a state of being contrary or opposing, often in discussions about conflicting ideas or situations. Example: "The contrariety of their opinions made it difficult to reach a consensus during the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

His method allowed him to make use of his recognition that "a manifest and striking contrariety between the life of an author and his writings" can exist and to assign different purposes to his analysis of his subjects' lives and their poetry.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The more important logical relations are implication (as in the first example above) and equivalence; and, as displayed in the square of opposition (see opposition, square of), contrariety (as in the second example), contradiction, subcontrariety, and subimplication.

Encyclopedia Britannica

If you can't handle contrariety, you shouldn't be here.

Independent

The invention and contrariety of that brainstorming age — in a rewarding introduction to the catalogue, the show's curator, Leah Dickerman, cites "cars, photography, relativity, and the death of god" — conferred a special prestige on creators, in all of the arts, who dramatized the effects of change.

The New Yorker

"Brod himself was intent on canonising Kafka as a Zionist saint, and the Israeli state holding the papers ensures that this falsification will continue apace – still, it matters not, the works are out there in all their contrariety, sparking different and heterodox sensations as legion as their readers".

The Guardian - Books

Despite the title of Adam Sisman's perceptive and affectionate book, the association between Wordsworth and Coleridge was more like an affair: briefly intense, though doomed by the contrariety of their characters and the unstable balance of power between them.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

At once metropolis and country, neither wholly natural nor wholly artificial, home to the sedate swan and the preposterous pelican, a place of new growth that speaks urgently of death, a city park enables us to rejoice in those contrarieties that prevent us turning fanatical or tedious.

Independent

Yet in nearly every scene, Moehringer slights the contrarieties, surprises and weirdness of Willie the Actor's life in favor of a tired rich girl/poor boy tragedy of thwarted love.

The New York Times - Books

Yet as if to prove the truth of WB Yeats's contention that without contrarieties there could be no progression, he was equally emphatic about poetry's need to descend from its high vantage point and creep about among the nomads on the plain.

The Guardian - Books

Threefold vision arises naturally from Beulah, which, in Blake's mythology, is the place of poetic inspiration and dreams, "where Contrarieties are equally True" (Blake, Milton).

The Guardian - Books

In the writer's soul, he maintained, all contrarieties are found . . . according to some turn or removing, and in some fashion or other.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "contrariety" when you want to highlight a fundamental opposition or contrast between two things, especially in philosophical or academic contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "contrariety" when a simple disagreement or difference of opinion is meant. "Contrariety" implies a deeper, more inherent opposition.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "contrariety" is as a noun, representing a state or instance of being contrary or opposite. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes opposition or contrast, often in abstract or philosophical contexts. Examples include "the contrariety of their characters" or "a study in ambiguity and contrariety".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "contrariety" is a noun that describes a state of opposition or contrast, often used in formal contexts to highlight significant conflicts between ideas or things. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically sound and can be effectively used to denote opposition or conflict. While synonyms like "opposition" or "conflict" may sometimes be suitable, "contrariety" carries a more specific connotation of fundamental opposition, often encountered in philosophical or academic writings. Given its specific usage and formal tone, it's important to reserve "contrariety" for contexts where you want to emphasize a deep-seated and inherent opposition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

opposition

Focuses more on the act of resisting or combating something.

conflict

Implies a direct clash or struggle between opposing forces.

inconsistency

Highlights a lack of uniformity or coherence.

disagreement

Emphasizes a difference in opinion or perspective.

discord

Suggests a lack of harmony or agreement.

divergence

Indicates a departure or deviation from a common point.

antagonism

Suggests active hostility or opposition.

variance

Highlights the state or fact of differing or being in disagreement.

clashing

Emphasizes the act of coming into conflict or collision.

dissension

Refers to disagreement that causes quarreling.

FAQs

How to use "contrariety" in a sentence?

"Contrariety" is typically used to describe a state of opposition or contrast between two ideas, concepts, or things. For example, "The "contrariety" between their beliefs made it difficult for them to find common ground."

What can I say instead of "contrariety"?

You can use alternatives like "opposition", "conflict", or "inconsistency" depending on the specific context. For instance, instead of "the "contrariety" of their views", you might say "the "opposition" of their views".

Which is correct, "contrariety" or "contradiction"?

"Contrariety" and "contradiction" are related but not interchangeable. "Contrariety" refers to a general opposition, while "contradiction" implies a direct statement that one thing is and is not at the same time.

What's the difference between "contrariety" and "disagreement"?

"Disagreement" suggests a difference in opinion or perspective, while "contrariety" indicates a more fundamental opposition or conflict between ideas or things. The "contrariety" goes beyond simple disagreement.