Meaning & use
on the contrary
Used to introduce a statement that contradicts or opposes what was just said.
See it in a sentence
He wasn't upset about the delay; on the contrary, he seemed relieved to have more time.
On the contrary, the new policy has actually increased employee satisfaction.
A note on using this word
On the contrary directly contradicts a previous statement, while on the other hand simply introduces a different or contrasting point.
Words with a similar meaning
quite the oppositeconversely
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
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