Meaning & use
contrastingly
Last updated
Meanings
adverbnot comparable
Used to introduce a fact or idea that is very different from the one before it.
Grammar: Often placed at the start of a sentence and followed by a comma: Contrastingly, the north stayed dry.
Patterns
- Contrastingly, …
The east coast saw heavy rain. Contrastingly, the west remained dry.
Sales in Europe grew steadily; contrastingly, they fell sharply in Asia.
Contrastingly, the younger group preferred online banking.
adverbnot comparable
In a way that clearly shows a difference when placed beside something else.
Grammar: Often used with an adjective or participle: contrastingly bright colors.
Patterns
- contrastingly + adjective
The walls were painted a contrastingly dark blue.
The two sisters dressed contrastingly, one in black and one in white.
Common combinations
- contrastingly different
- The twins have contrastingly different personalities.
- contrastingly bright
- A contrastingly bright flower stood out against the gray rocks.
- contrastingly, the other group
- Contrastingly, the other group showed no change.
- contrastingly dark
- The contrastingly dark border made the picture stand out.
Synonyms and how they differ
- by contrast
- By contrast is a more common and natural phrase for introducing a difference, and sounds less stiff than contrastingly.
- conversely
- Conversely introduces the reverse of something just said, while contrastingly just points to any difference.
- however
- However marks an unexpected turn in general, whereas contrastingly stresses a direct comparison between two things.
- in contrast
- In contrast works the same way but is far more frequent in everyday writing.
Opposites
Word family
- contrast noun
- a clear difference between two things
- contrast verb
- to compare in order to show differences
- contrasting adjective
- clearly different from something else
- contrastive adjective
- showing or based on differences
Commonly confused: contrastingly or conversely?
contrastingly vs conversely
Conversely flips a statement around, as in 'Some like heat; conversely, others hate it'. Contrastingly only notes a difference.
Practice
The first town grew rapidly. ___, the second town lost a third of its people.
Choose one answer.
Contrastingly introduces a sharp difference from the first town. Similarly and moreover would signal agreement or addition.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “contrastingly”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.