contrarily

[/ˈkɒntrərɪli/ or /kənˈtrɛrɪli/]
adverb
contrariamente
1. in a way that is opposite or opposed to something; in a contrary manner
Contrarily to what many believe, the project was a success.
Contrariamente ao que muitos acreditam, o projeto foi um sucesso.
2. in a perverse or obstinate manner; contrary to expectations or wishes
He acted contrarily to all advice given to him.
Ele agiu contrariamente a todos os conselhos que lhe foram dados.
3. on the other hand; conversely
Some say yes, but contrarily, others disagree strongly.
Alguns dizem sim, mas contrariamente, outros discordam fortemente.
This is a formal adverb more commonly used in academic, legal, and formal written contexts in both Brazilian Portuguese and European Portuguese. In everyday Brazilian conversation, native speakers typically prefer the phrase 'ao contrário' (on the contrary) or simply restructure sentences to avoid the formal 'contrariamente.' In American English, 'contrarily' is also somewhat formal and literary, with 'conversely' or 'on the other hand' being more colloquial alternatives.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
converselyoppositelyinverselycontrariwiseon the contrary
Antonyms / Antônimos
similarlylikewiseaccordinglycorrespondingly

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
contrariamente
standard formal usage in written and spoken Portuguese
Rio de Janeiro
ao contrário
more colloquial alternative meaning 'on the contrary'
São Paulo
contrariamente
standard usage in formal business and academic contexts
Portugal
contrariamente
identical to Brazilian usage; formal and literary usage preferred

Related Words

contrarycontrarinesscontradictoppositionadverse

Related Idioms & Phrases

quite the contrary
on the contrary
to the contrary
contrary to popular belief
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