What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
reversed
Example
The car was parked in reverse, facing the opposite direction. [reverse: adverb]
Example
The teacher reversed the order of the questions on the quiz. [reversed: verb]
contrary
Example
Contrary to popular belief, not all cats hate water. [contrary: preposition]
Example
Her actions were contrary to her words, causing confusion among her friends. [contrary: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Reversed is more commonly used than contrary in everyday language, especially in technical or specialized contexts. Contrary is more formal and less commonly used in casual conversation.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between reversed and contrary?
Contrary is generally considered more formal than reversed, and is often used in academic or professional writing to express disagreement or opposition.
