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Oppose vs Contrary - What's the difference?

oppose | contrary |

As verbs the difference between oppose and contrary

is that oppose is to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.; to contend against; to confront; to resist; to withstand while contrary is to oppose; to frustrate.

As an adjective contrary is

opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse.

As an adverb contrary is

contrarily.

As a noun contrary is

the opposite.

oppose

English

Verb

(oppos)
  • To attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.; to contend against; to confront; to resist; to withstand.
  • to oppose''' the king in battle; to '''oppose a bill in Congress
    There is still time to oppose this plan.
  • To object to.
  • Many religious leaders oppose cloning humans.
  • To present or set up in opposition; to pose.
  • They are opposed to any form of hierarchy.
  • * John Locke
  • I may oppose my single opinion to his.
  • * 1839 , Philip Meadows Taylor, Confessions of a Thug
  • [T]hree walls had been left standing, with large intervals between each; and they would certainly oppose a most formidable interruption to an invader.
  • To place in front of, or over against; to set opposite; to exhibit.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Her grace sat down / In a rich chair of state; opposing freely / The beauty of her person to the people.
  • To compete with; to strive against.
  • to oppose a rival for a prize
  • * Shakespeare
  • I am too weak / To oppose your cunning.

    Synonyms

    *

    Antonyms

    * support

    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.
  • References

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