Contrariwise

Synonyms for "contrariwise" (48 found)

Ranked by relevance and common usage.

Closest matches (10)

Adverb(1 words)
acrossagainagainst the grainarsy varsyat cross purposesat issueat oddsat varianceat war

Strong matches (14)

athwartback to backbackwardcontracontrarycountercrisscrosscrosscross grainedcrosswiseeyeball to eyeballface to facehead over heels
Adverb(1 words)

Related words (24)

in oppositioninverselyon the other handonlyoppositeotherwiseoverpoles apartrathersidewaysthwarttopsy turvytransversetraverseturned aroundup in armsupside down
Adverb(6 words)
on the contraryoppositelyperverselythe other way aroundto the contraryvice versa
Adjective(1 words)

Choosing the right synonym

  • Closest matches in this entry: contrarily, across, again, against the grain, arsy varsy.
  • Sentence evidence is available for contrariwise, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
  • Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse.

Synonym selection checklist

  • Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
  • Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
  • Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "contrariwise".
  • Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.

When not to replace "contrariwise"

Keep "contrariwise" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.

If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.

Replacement workflow

1. Preserve meaning

Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "contrariwise" intact in the sentence you are editing.

2. Tune tone

Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.

3. Re-read context

Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.

Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.

Final fit check

After choosing a replacement for "contrariwise", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.

If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "contrariwise" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.

Related word relations

OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.

3 relation types

More general

2 entries
adverbdiscourse adverb

More specific

4 entries

Collocations

5 entries
contrary stanceopposing viewopposite directionopposite effectopposite outcome

Sample sentences

2 total sentences available.

Tatoeba + Wiktionary

If Burd Ellen had gone “widishins" round the church, she would, I think, have used the best homoeopathic specific against the Elf-King's power; for "to go widishins" was the chief element in elfin practices, and if mortals wished to resist or unspell elf-craft, they, too, had "to go widershins," or they had to repeat the Paternoster backwards, which came to the same thing, or do something else contrariwise.

Source: wiktionary

Rain patters on a sea that tilts and sighs. / Fast-running floors, collapsing into hollows, / Tower suddenly, spray-haired. Contrariwise, / A wave drops like a wall: another follows, / Wilting and scrambling

Source: wiktionary

Common questions

What are the closest synonyms for "contrariwise"?

Closest matches include contrarily, across, again, against the grain, arsy varsy.

How should I check whether a synonym fits "contrariwise"?

Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.

More for "contrariwise"