What does contrarious mean?
"Contrarious" is an adjective describing a disposition that is habitually opposed, contradictory, or perverse — the quality of someone or something that seems to resist whatever is asked or expected of it. A contrarious person answers requests with refusals, argues for the sake of arguing, and takes the opposite side almost as a matter of principle. The word can also describe impersonal forces, such as contrary winds or adverse circumstances, though this usage has grown rare. It derives from Latin "contrarius," meaning "opposite," the same root behind the more familiar word "contrary." Unlike "contrary," which remains common in everyday speech, "contrarious" survives mainly in literary and older texts, giving writing that uses it a distinctly formal or antique flavor. It is useful precisely because it captures not a single act of opposition but a settled, temperamental inclination toward it.
adjectiveDisposed to oppose or contradict; stubbornly contrary or perverse in temperament or behavior.
- Habitually inclined to oppose, contradict, or take the opposite position; perverse or difficult in disposition.
- (Of things) acting in opposition or tending to produce contrary effects; unfavorable or adverse (now rare).
"The contrarious old mule refused to move no matter how gently the farmer coaxed it."
"A contrarious child who answered every request with a flat refusal."
"The winds proved contrarious, driving the ship back toward the coast it had just left."
This rare cousin of "contrary" has been describing people who say no on principle since the 1500s — and unlike its famous sibling, it never made it into everyday speech.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of contrarious
"Contrarious" comes from Latin "contrarius," meaning "opposite" or "against," transmitted through Old French "contrarios"/"contraire" into English, where it is attested from the early modern period (the 16th century). The root combines "contra-" ("against") with a suffix related to turning or direction, reflecting the idea of facing or moving the opposite way. It shares this origin with "contrary," "contradict," and "controversy," all built on the same Latin stem.
Related word forms
How contrarious is actually used
"Contrarious" is a literary and somewhat archaic word, far rarer than its close relative "contrary." It carries a mildly disapproving connotation when applied to people. The sense referring to adverse physical forces (winds, currents, circumstances) is now chiefly of historical interest.
Easily confused with contrarious
"Contumacious" means stubbornly disobedient to authority, while "contrarious" means habitually opposed or contrary in disposition.