contravene
verb
transitive verb
Did you know?
Contravene is most often used in reference to laws. So a government may take a company to court claiming that its policies are in contravention of national labor laws. The contravention of copyright laws is a big topic today especially where electronic information is involved. And a country might be punished if a trade organization finds that it's contravening international trade agreements.
Synonyms
- breach
- break
- fracture
- infringe (on or upon)
- offend
- traduce
- transgress
- violate
Example Sentences
Stephanie Yang, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2022 In an increasing number of states, that choice could contravene the law. Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 11 July 2022 As in Akron, all of these restrictions appeared to contravene the trimester framework of Roe. Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 25 June 2022 Defenders of the practice have argued that the bourbon is already matured when it is moved to a cask that previously held other liquids and that the finishing process does not contravene the legal definition of bourbon. Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 26 May 2022 Such a move would contravene sanctions, triggering the yacht’s impoundment. Nick Kostov And Giovanni Legorano, WSJ, 5 Mar. 2022 Immediate expulsions clearly contravene that principle, something government lawyers don’t deny. Felipe De La Hoz, The New Republic, 22 Feb. 2022 National leaders, from German Chancelor Angela Merkel to President Biden condemned Hamas but remained silent about the Israeli military attacks that contravene international law. Madhvi Ramani, The Week, 2 June 2021 Compassion fatigue can result from exposure to traumatized individuals; moral distress and moral injury are newly ascendent concepts, occurring when workers are forced to act in ways that contravene their values or ideals. Clayton Dalton, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2021 See More Word History
Middle French or Late Latin; Middle French contrevenir, from Late Latin contravenire, from Latin contra- + venire to come — more at come
1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1
contravene
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- violate
- break
- breach
- transgress
- offend
- fracture
- traduce
- disobey
- ignore
- flout
- disregard
- infringe (on or upon)
- rebel
- neglect
- resist
- overlook
- dismiss
- slight
- defy
- pass over
- blow off
- withstand
- tune out
- scorn
- overpass
- shrug off
- pooh
- brush (off)
- wink (at)
- pooh-pooh
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- follow
- obey
- observe
- serve
- comply (with)
- conform (to)
- submit (to)
- mind
- yield (to)
- hear
- listen (to)
- regard
- notice
- attend
- watch
- surrender (to)
- mark
- defer (to)
- note
- heed
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of contravene are contradict, deny, and gainsay. While all these words mean "to refuse to accept as true or valid," contravene implies not so much an intentional opposition as some inherent incompatibility.
While in some cases nearly identical to contravene, contradict implies an open or flat denial.
The words deny and contravene can be used in similar contexts, but deny implies a firm refusal to accept as true, to grant or concede, or to acknowledge the existence or claims of.
The words gainsay and contravene are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, gainsay implies disputing the truth of what another has said.