contrariness
/'kɔntrərinis/
Definition
- Noun:
- A state or quality of being deliberately opposite or perverse: The inherent tendency to act, think, or feel in a way that is intentionally contrary, opposing, or contradictory to what is expected, requested, or reasonable.
- Stubborn resistance to guidance or authority: A disposition marked by an obstinate and willful refusal to comply, often characterized by unruliness and defiance.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- His constant contrariness made it impossible to have a productive discussion. (His habitual tendency to oppose made productive discussion impossible.)
- The child's contrariness was evident when she refused to wear the coat simply because her mother suggested it. (The child's perverse opposition was clear when she refused the coat just because her mother suggested it.)
Advanced Usage
- "Sheer contrariness": Used to emphasize that an action is motivated by nothing other than a desire to oppose.
- He voted against the proposal out of sheer contrariness, not because he disagreed with its content.
- "A spirit of contrariness": Describes a general attitude or mood of being deliberately oppositional.
- A spirit of contrariness seemed to have taken hold of the committee, stalling all progress.
Variants and Related Words
- Contrary (adj): Opposite in nature, direction, or meaning; perversely inclined to oppose or disagree.
- She took a contrary view on the issue.
- Contrarian (n): A person who opposes or rejects popular opinion or current practice.
- He was a financial contrarian, always investing against the market trend.
Synonyms
- Perversity: The quality of being contrary to accepted standards or practice, often in a stubborn way.
- Obstinacy: Stubbornness, especially in refusing to change one's opinion or course of action.
- Recalcitrance: Stubborn resistance to authority or control.
Related Phrases
- To do something out of contrariness: To perform an action primarily to be oppositional.
- She started learning the obscure language out of pure contrariness.
- A streak of contrariness: A persistent trait of being contrary.
- For all his charm, he had a definite streak of contrariness.
Noun
-
a fussy and eccentric disposition
-
deliberate and stubborn unruliness and resistance to guidance or discipline
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