Contrary vs Incompatible - What's the difference?

contrary | incompatible | Related terms |

Contrary is a related term of incompatible.


As adjectives the difference between contrary and incompatible

is that contrary is opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse while incompatible is of two things: that cannot coexist; not congruous because of differences; irreconcilable; disagreeing.

As nouns the difference between contrary and incompatible

is that contrary is the opposite while incompatible is (medicine|chemistry|chiefly|in the plural) an incompatible substance; one of a group of things that cannot be placed or used together because of a change of chemical composition or opposing medicinal qualities.

As an adverb contrary

is contrarily.

As a verb contrary

is (obsolete) to oppose; to frustrate.

contrary

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse.
    • contrary winds
  • * Bible, Leviticus xxvi. 21
    • And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me
  • * Shakespeare
    • We have lost our labour; they are gone a contrary way.
  • Opposed; contradictory; inconsistent.
  • * Whewell
    • The doctrine of the earth's motion appeared to be contrary to the sacred Scripture.
  • Given to opposition; perverse; wayward.
    • a contrary''' disposition; a '''contrary child

    Derived terms

    * contrarian * contrarily * contrariwise * contrary to

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • Contrarily

    • Noun

    (contraries)
  • The opposite.
  • * Shakespeare
    • No contraries hold more antipathy / Than I and such a knave.
  • One of a pair of propositions that cannot both be simultaneously true.
  • * I. Watts
    • If two universals differ in quality, they are contraries ; as, every vine is a tree; no vine is a tree. These can never be both true together; but they may be both false.

    Synonyms

    * witherward

    Derived terms

    * on the contrary * to the contrary

    Verb

    (en-verb)
  • (obsolete) To oppose; to frustrate.
  • *Bishop Latimer
  • *:I was advised not to contrary the king.
  • *, I.47:
  • *:The Athenians having left the enemie in their owne land, for to pass into Sicilie , had very ill successe, and were much contraried by fortune.
  • (obsolete) To impugn.
  • (obsolete) To contradict (someone or something).
  • *:
  • *:thus wilfully sir Palomydes dyd bataille with yow / & as for hym sir I was not gretely aferd but I dred fore la?celot that knew yow not / Madame said Palomydes ye maye saye what so ye wyll / I maye not contrary yow but by my knyghthode I knewe not sir Tristram
  • *, II.12:
  • *:I finde them everie one in his turne to have reason, although they contrary one another.
  • (obsolete) To do the opposite of (someone'' or ''something ).
  • (obsolete) To act inconsistently or perversely; to act in opposition to .
  • (obsolete) To argue; to debate; to uphold an opposite opinion.
  • (obsolete) To be self-contradictory; to become reversed.

    • Related terms

    * contra * counter

    References

    * * * *

    incompatible

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Of two things: that cannot coexist; not congruous because of differences; irreconcilable; disagreeing.
  • (chemistry) Incapable of being together without mutual reaction or decomposition, as certain medicines.

    • Antonyms

    * compatible

    Derived terms

    * incompatibly * incompatibility

    See also

    * incombinable * uncombinable * ununifiable * antagonistic * antipodal * contrastive

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (medicine, chemistry, chiefly, in the plural) An incompatible substance; one of a group of things that cannot be placed or used together because of a change of chemical composition or opposing medicinal qualities.
    • the incompatibles of iron
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