con|trar|ian /kəntreə riən/ (contrarians ) N‑COUNT [oft N n] A contrarian is a person who deliberately behaves in a way that is different from the people around them. [FORMAL ] □ He is by nature a contrarian. □ …the young contrarian intellectual.
con|tra|ry /kɒ ntrəri, [AM ] -treri/
1 ADJ Ideas, attitudes, or reactions that are contrary to each other are completely different from each other. □ [+ to ] This view is contrary to the aims of critical social research for a number of reasons. □ Several of those present, including Weinberger, had contrary information.
2 PHRASE If you say that something is true contrary to other people's beliefs or opinions, you are emphasizing that it is true and that they are wrong. [EMPHASIS ] □ Contrary to popular belief, moderate exercise actually decreases your appetite.
3 PHRASE You use on the contrary when you have just said or implied that something is not true and are going to say that the opposite is true. □ It is not an idea around which the Community can unite. On the contrary, I see it as one that will divide us.
4 PHRASE You can use on the contrary when you are disagreeing strongly with something that has just been said or implied, or are making a strong negative reply. [EMPHASIS ] □ 'People just don't do things like that.'—'On the contrary, they do them all the time.'
5 PHRASE You can use quite the contrary to emphasize a previous negative statement, or when you are making a strong negative reply. [EMPHASIS ] □ I'm not a feminist, quite the contrary.
6 PHRASE When a particular idea is being considered, evidence or statements to the contrary suggest that this idea is not true or that the opposite is true. □ He stuck to his assumption despite growing evidence to the contrary. USAGE contrary
Don’t say ‘on the contrary’ when you are going to mention something that gives a different opinion from something you have just said. Don’t say, for example, ‘
con|trast ◆◇◇ (contrasts , contrasting , contrasted ) The noun is pronounced /kɒ ntrɑːst, -træst/. The verb is pronounced /kəntrɑː st, -træ st/. 1 N‑VAR A contrast is a great difference between two or more things which is clear when you compare them. □ [+ between ] …the contrast between town and country. □ The two visitors provided a startling contrast in appearance. □ Silk was used with wool for contrast.
2 PHRASE You say by contrast or in contrast , or in contrast to something, to show that you are mentioning a very different situation from the one you have just mentioned. □ The private sector, by contrast, has plenty of money to spend. □ In contrast, the lives of girls in well-to-do families were often very sheltered. □ In contrast to similar services in France and Germany, Intercity rolling stock is very rarely idle.
3 PHRASE If one thing is in contrast to another, it is very different from it. □ His public statements have always been in marked contrast to those of his son.
4 N‑COUNT If one thing is a contrast to another, it is very different from it. □ [+ to ] The boy's room is a complete contrast to the guest room. □ …a country of great contrasts.
5 VERB If you contrast one thing with another, you point out or consider the differences between those things. □ [V n + with ] She contrasted the situation then with the present crisis. □ [V n] In this section we contrast four possible broad approaches.
6 VERB If one thing contrasts with another, it is very different from it. □ [V + with ] Johnson's easy charm contrasted sharply with the prickliness of his boss. □ [V -ing] Paint the wall in a contrasting colour. [Also V ]
7 N‑UNCOUNT Contrast is the degree of difference between the darker and lighter parts of a photograph, television picture, or painting. COLLOCATIONS contrast NOUN
1
adjective + contrast : marked, sharp, stark, startling; dynamic
verb + contrast : offer, provide, show
4
adjective + contrast : complete, total; interesting, refreshing VERB 6
contrast + adverb : markedly, sharply, starkly, strikingly; unfavourably SYNONYMS contrast NOUN 1
difference: …the vast difference in size.
disparity: …the great disparity of wealth between rich and poor countries. VERB 5
differentiate: A child may not differentiate between his imagination and the real world.
distinguish: It is necessary to distinguish the policies of two successive governments.
contra|vene /kɒ ntrəviː n/ (contravenes , contravening , contravened ) VERB To contravene a law or rule means to do something that is forbidden by the law or rule. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] The Board has banned the film on the grounds that it contravenes criminal libel laws. ● contra|ven|tion /kɒ ntrəve nʃ ə n/ (contraventions ) N‑VAR [oft in N of n] □ [+ of ] The government has lent millions of pounds to banks in contravention of the laws.
con|tre|temps /kɒ ntrətɒm/ (contretemps ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] A contretemps is a small disagreement that is rather embarrassing. [LITERARY ] □ [+ with ] He was briefly arrested in Rome after a contretemps with Italian police.