at variance
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective phrase:
- Not in agreement or harmony; conflicting or inconsistent: Describes a state where two or more things, ideas, or people are in disagreement, opposition, or do not match.
- Widely discrepant or differing: Indicates a significant difference or divergence between elements.
Usage
- Common Structure: The phrase is typically used in the pattern "A is at variance with B" to show that A disagrees with, contradicts, or differs from B.
- Formality: This phrase is formal and is often used in written English, legal contexts, academic writing, or formal reports.
Examples
- Adjective phrase:
- His actions were at variance with the company's official policy. (His actions did not agree with the company's policy.)
- The witness's second statement was at variance with his first. (The second statement contradicted the first one.)
- Their findings are at variance with established scientific theory. (Their findings conflict with the accepted theory.)
Advanced Usage
- "to be at variance": To be in a state of disagreement or conflict.
- The two departments are at variance over the new budget. (The two departments disagree about the new budget.)
- "at variance on/over something": Disagreeing about a specific issue.
- The allies found themselves at variance over the strategy. (The allies disagreed about the strategy.)
Variants and Related Words
- Variance (n): The fact or quality of being different, divergent, or in disagreement.
- There is some variance in the data collected from the two sources.
- Vary (v): To be different or to change.
- The symptoms vary from person to person.
Synonyms
- In conflict with: Directly opposing or clashing with.
- Contrary to: Opposite in nature, direction, or meaning.
- At odds with: In disagreement or conflict with (a more common, slightly less formal synonym).
Antonyms
- In accord with: In agreement or harmony with.
- Consistent with: Compatible or in agreement with; not contradictory.
Adjective
- not in accord
- desires at variance with his duty
- widely discrepant statements