contrarily

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'contrarily' is correct and usable in written English.
This word is generally used to express a contrast with something that has already been said or to express disagreement. For example: "I think it would be a good idea to attend the meeting; however, my colleague contrarily argued that it wasn't necessary."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Hollywood film U-571 (2000), in which the Royal Navy's capture of an Enigma machine during the second world war is falsely attributed to an American crew (including chief engineer Jon Bon Jovi), was denounced in parliament by prime minister Tony Blair.

The Guardian - Film

U Myint Aye, aged 61, from Yangon, has a long track record of peaceful political activism.

The Guardian

Referring back to her iconic look in the Nothing Compares 2 U video – a huge international hit written by Prince – O'Connor admitted that she was asked by her label to reconsider her image for the 1990s video.

The Guardian - Music

In Britain, the US and France the top 1% have over the past 100 years seen their fortunes rise and fall and rise again in a U-shaped arc.

The Guardian - Business

Of these, Brundage sa id 85% – almost 600,000 – are unemployed even though many of them are employable.

The Guardian - Business

"This time it was União da Madeira, his eighth promotion, from the second division to the first tier (or seventh if we exclude last year as he was sacked before the end of the season): P. Ferreira 90-91, Académica 96-97, U. Leiria 97-98, Belenenses 98-99, Leixões 06-07, Arouca 12-13, Moreirense 13-14 and U. Madeira 14-15.

The Guardian - Sport

The U-6 number is around 13%, Yellen says.

The Guardian - Business

But on Thursday at an EU summit in Brussels, Luxembourg performed a U-turn and promised to hand over all the tax rulings to the commission after Vestager announced she was extending her inquiry to all 28 EU countries.

The Guardian

Indeed the pressure became so intense over the past 72 hours that the government was forced into an embarrassing U-turn over plans to cut allowances for younger disabled people in the republic.

The Guardian

"I guess it hurts 2 have the producers tell u to ur face that nicki is the best judge we've had since simon [cowell]," the rapper further tweeted.

The Guardian - Music

Amnesty is calling for the immediate release of Burmese human rights activist U Myint Aye, who is serving a life sentence for his alleged involvement in planning a bomb attack in the Shwepyitha Township in Yangon on 1 July 2008.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "contrarily" to introduce a statement that directly opposes or contrasts with a previous one, ensuring the contrast is clear and intentional. It's more formal than "however".

Common error

Avoid using "contrarily" in very informal or casual writing. Opt for simpler alternatives like "but" or "however" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "contrarily" functions to introduce a statement or idea that opposes or contrasts with something that has been previously stated. It indicates a direct contradiction or an opposing viewpoint.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Travel

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "contrarily" is an adverb used to introduce a contrasting or opposing statement. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, though notes it is a relatively rare term. It's best suited for formal writing to clearly emphasize a contrast. Alternatives include "on the contrary" or "conversely". While grammatically sound, overuse in informal contexts may sound unnatural. When writing, ensure a clear and intentional contrast is being made.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on the contrary

Emphasizes the opposite point of view.

conversely

Indicates a reversed or opposite state or situation.

in contrast

Highlights a clear difference between two things.

by contrast

Similar to "in contrast", emphasizing the difference.

on the other hand

Introduces an opposing viewpoint or consideration.

however

Signals a contrast or qualification to a previous statement.

nevertheless

Implies that something is true despite what has been said.

yet

Introduces something contrasting with what preceded it.

notwithstanding

Indicates that something is true despite something else.

despite this

Shows that something happens even with an obstacle.

FAQs

How to use "contrarily" in a sentence?

"Contrarily" is used to introduce a statement that opposes a previous one. For example, "I believe this plan will succeed; my colleague, "conversely", thinks it will fail".

What can I say instead of "contrarily"?

You can use alternatives like "on the contrary", "conversely", or "however" depending on the context.

Is "contrarily" formal or informal?

"Contrarily" is generally considered a formal word. In informal contexts, it's better to use alternatives such as "but" or "however".

What's the difference between "contrarily" and "conversely"?

Both "contrarily" and "conversely" indicate an opposite or contrasting idea. "Contrarily" often implies a direct opposition to a specific statement, while "conversely" suggests a reversed situation or condition.