harboring a contrary feeling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "harboring a contrary feeling" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing someone who holds a feeling or opinion that is opposite to what is expected or commonly accepted. Example: "Despite the team's enthusiasm, she found herself harboring a contrary feeling about the project's direction."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

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Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Yes, harboring a grudge and feeling hateful can temporarily energize us, but in the long run it wears us out.

Huffington Post

Since the early days of U.S. attempts to divide the Colorado, Arizona harbored a grudge, feeling it had been cheated out of water.

Stanford University

Adelson (he pronounces it Addle-son) always has felt like an outsider, and he harbors a Rodney Dangerfield feeling that he doesn't get enough respect.

Forbes

And yet, I still harbored a creeping feeling we would sort it all out.

Huffington Post

(If she harbors a speck of feeling for Metallica's "Nothing Else Matters," she didn't show it).

The New York Times - Arts

On the contrary, vertebrae colonized by Osedax were heavily degraded and did not exhibit evidence of a sulfophilic stage, harboring a distinct epifaunal assemblage.

Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography

Greig is charged with harboring a fugitive.

Independent

She harbors a full range of feelings, from embarrassment to anger, and, like other yearning women, she finds herself limited by circumstance.

The New York Times - Books

Contrary to antennae, maxillary palps harbor a single type of olfactory sensillum that has been shown to respond to a broad spectrum of odorants in Cx. quinquefasciatus [38].

Plosone

Strong, contrary feelings were expressed and supportive evidence offered.

Independent

Eggleston's images ricochet with contrary feelings and impulses.

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "harboring a contrary feeling" to describe a situation where someone secretly or privately holds an emotion that opposes a prevailing sentiment or expectation.

Common error

While grammatically sound, using "harboring a contrary feeling" too often in formal writing can make the text sound melodramatic. Opt for more direct and concise expressions like "holding a different opinion" or "disagreeing" when appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "harboring a contrary feeling" functions as a descriptive phrase, typically acting as a participial phrase modifying a noun or pronoun. It describes someone who secretly or privately holds an emotion that opposes a prevailing sentiment. Ludwig AI confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Missing

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "harboring a contrary feeling" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe someone secretly holding an emotion that opposes a prevailing sentiment. As per Ludwig AI, it is usable in written English. While grammatically sound, this phrase is not very common, therefore related alternative phrases such as "holding an opposing view" might be a more direct alternative. Although present across several contexts, its appearance is equally distributed; this is also confirmed by the usage analysis. It is recommended to consider the emotional weight and context when using it, opting for simpler expressions in formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

holding an opposing view

Replaces the emotional aspect of "feeling" with a more intellectual "view".

possessing a dissenting opinion

Substitutes "harboring" with "possessing" and "feeling" with "opinion", indicating a formal stance.

maintaining a conflicting sentiment

Emphasizes the persistence of the contrary feeling.

nurturing a divergent emotion

Uses "nurturing" to suggest a more active and deliberate holding of the feeling.

entertaining an alternative perspective

Softens the contrariness by suggesting consideration rather than firm belief.

having a different impression

Focuses on the subjective experience of the feeling.

experiencing a reverse sensation

Highlights the sensory or emotional aspect of the contrary feeling.

retaining a contrasting notion

Suggests a more cognitive and reasoned difference.

keeping an opposing mindset

Highlights a sustained and deliberate act of retaining the contrary perspective.

bearing an inverse emotion

Conveys the carrying of an opposite or reversed emotional state.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "harboring a contrary feeling"?

You can use alternatives like "holding an opposing view", "possessing a dissenting opinion", or "maintaining a conflicting sentiment" to convey a similar meaning with different emphasis.

Is "harboring a contrary feeling" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "harboring a contrary feeling" may sound somewhat dramatic or literary. In formal contexts, consider using more direct and neutral alternatives such as "holding a different view" or "having a conflicting opinion".

What does it mean to "harbor a feeling"?

To "harbor a feeling" means to secretly or privately hold and nurture that feeling, often indicating that it is not openly expressed or acknowledged. The verb "harbor" implies a sense of containment or hiddenness.

Which is more common: "harboring a contrary feeling" or "holding a contrary view"?

"Holding a contrary view" is generally more common and less emotionally charged than "harboring a contrary feeling". The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the emotional or intellectual aspect of the differing perspective.