What does contrariness mean?
Contrariness is the quality or disposition of being contrary — that is, having a habitual tendency to oppose, resist, or disagree with others, often deliberately and for its own sake rather than from genuine conviction. It describes a personality trait or mood rather than a single act: a contrary person argues with suggestions on principle, refuses requests out of spite, and insists on the opposite of whatever is proposed. The word is most commonly used in everyday speech and writing to explain or complain about such behaviour, frequently in phrases like "out of sheer contrariness." It carries a distinctly negative connotation, suggesting perverseness and wilful unreasonableness rather than thoughtful independence — though in literature a touch of contrariness can also lend a character charm or spirit. Closely related words include obstinacy, stubbornness, and perversity, but contrariness specifically emphasises opposition directed at other people's wishes or expectations. It derives from the adjective "contrary," which traces back through Old French to the Latin "contrarius," meaning "opposite."
nounThe quality or disposition of being contrary; a tendency to oppose, resist, or disagree with others, often deliberately and for its own sake.
- A disposition or habit of mind characterized by deliberate opposition, resistance, or disagreement with others.
- The quality of being contrary in character or behaviour; perverseness or wilful unreasonableness.
"Her contrariness made family dinners exhausting — whatever anyone suggested, she insisted on the opposite."
"He refused the offer out of sheer contrariness, even though it was exactly what he wanted."
"The child's contrariness peaked at bedtime: the more she was urged to sleep, the wider her eyes stayed open."
Grammatically valid but very rarely encountered; the word is almost always used as an uncountable singular.
"The novel catalogues the contrarinesses of its heroine across five decades."
"Out of sheer contrariness" — English speakers have used this phrase for centuries to describe people who argue not because they're right, but simply because they enjoy opposing you.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of contrariness
Contrariness derives from the adjective "contrary," which entered Middle English from Old French "contrarie" and ultimately from Latin "contrarius," meaning "turned against" or "opposite" (from "contra," "against"). The noun form arose in English by the early modern period, formed with the familiar suffix "-ness" to express the abstract quality of being contrary. Its Latin root also gives English related words such as "contrariety," "contrast," and "counter."
Related word forms
How contrariness is actually used
Contrariness is an abstract noun and always singular in sense, though the plural form exists grammatically. It carries a mildly negative connotation, implying wilfulness rather than principled disagreement, and is common in both everyday speech and literary description. It is often used in phrases like "out of contrariness" or "sheer contrariness" to explain someone's motive as mere opposition for its own sake.
Easily confused with contrariness
Contrariety is the state of being directly opposite in nature or quality (as between two things), while contrariness is the human disposition to be contrary.