Meanings
comparative more contrariant · superlative most contrariant
- Contrary or antagonistic.
the struggles of contrariant factions
1795, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, address delivered in Bristol1 more example
The learned Chancellor concludes:—“We have long ago satisfied ourselves that natural science, as represented by Darwin, is not contrariant to revealed religon, and it is a wholesome thing to be remnided that every good and perfect gift cometh from the Father of Light.”
1903 January 14, “Current Notes”, in Bye-Gones: Relating to Wales and the Border Counties, volume 8, page 8Synonyms: antipodean, antithetical, contradictory, contrariwise, contrary, contrasted, converse, counter
plural contrariants
- rareA thing that is contrary or of opposite qualities.
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectiveContrary or antagonistic.
Origin
- Late Latincontrāriāns
- Old Frenchcontrariant
- Middle Englishcontrariaunt
- Englishcontrariant
Inherited from Middle English contrariaunt, from Old French contrariant, from Late Latin contrāriāns, present participle of contrāriō.
More words from Middle English, Old French, Late Latin
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
contrariant. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/contrariant
“contrariant.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/contrariant. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “contrariant,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/contrariant.
Source: contrariant on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.