Contrast — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /kən-ˈtrast/ (verb) /ˈkän-ˌtrast/ (noun) con·trast

Meaning & Definition of Contrast

Contrast (verb)

  1. to set off in contrast, compare or appraise in respect to differences —often used with to or with
  2. to form a contrast

Contrast (noun)

  1. juxtaposition of dissimilar elements (such as color, tone, or emotion) in a work of art
  2. degree of difference between the lightest and darkest parts of a picture
  3. the difference or degree of difference between things having similar or comparable natures

Contrast (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the quality or state of being different

    "the contrast between the two approaches to the problem of overeating could not be greater"

    similar: difference, disagreement, discrepancy, disparateness, disparity, dissimilarity, dissimilitude, distance, distinction, distinctiveness, distinctness, diverseness, diversity, otherness, unlikeness
    related: deviance, divergence, differentiability, discriminability, distinguishability, change, modification, variation, conflict, discord, discordance, dissension, dissent, dissidence, disunity, friction, strife, variability, variance, anomalousness, dichotomy, incompatibility, incongruence, incongruity, incongruousness, nonconformity, disproportion, imbalance, inequality, nonequivalence
    opposite: alikeness, analogousness, analogy, community, likeness, resemblance, sameness, similarity
    near: identicalness, identity, accordance, agreement, conformity, congruity, correspondence, parallelism, similitude, equality, equivalence, equivalency, homogeneity, homogeneousness, uniformity

Contrast (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to be unlike; to not be the same

    "her depressed mood today contrasts sharply with her good spirits yesterday"

    similar: differ, vary
    related: deviate, diverge, divide, fluctuate, separate
    opposite: compare, match
    near: accord, agree, conform, correspond

Related Entry: In contrast (to) (preposition)

In contrast (to) is a different word from Contrast. The synonyms below are for in contrast (to), not for contrast.

  1. as in contrasted (to), in comparison (to)

    similar: as opposed to, compared to, contrasted (to), in comparison (to), athwart, contrary to, with, against, agin (dialect), anti, contra, versus

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Contrast

The most common words with a similar meaning to Contrast:

difference, disagreement, discrepancy, disparateness, disparity, dissimilarity, dissimilitude, distance, distinction, distinctiveness, distinctness, diverseness, diversity, otherness, unlikeness, differ, vary

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Contrast

Words with the opposite meaning of Contrast:

alikeness, analogousness, analogy, community, likeness, resemblance, sameness, similarity, compare, match

Related Words for Contrast

deviance, divergence, differentiability, discriminability, distinguishability, change, modification, variation, conflict, discord, discordance, dissension, dissent, dissidence, disunity, friction, strife, variability, variance, anomalousness, dichotomy, incompatibility, incongruence, incongruity, incongruousness, nonconformity, disproportion, imbalance, inequality, nonequivalence

Near Antonyms of Contrast

identicalness, identity, accordance, agreement, conformity, congruity, correspondence, parallelism, similitude, equality, equivalence, equivalency, homogeneity, homogeneousness, uniformity, accord, agree, conform, correspond

Word Forms of Contrast

Inflections: contrasted, contrasting, contrasts

Derived words: contrastable (adjective), contrastingly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Contrast

borrowed from French contraster "to be in opposition (of elements of a work of art)," re-formation (after Italian contrastare "to oppose, set against, be in opposition [of elements of a work of art]") of Middle French contrester "to resist, oppose, struggle against," going back to Old French, going back to Vulgar Latin *contrāstāre "to oppose," from Latin contrā "opposite, facing, against" + stāre "to stand" contra-, stand:1

First known use: 1695t

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Contrast

Words & Phrases Containing Contrast

phase-contrast, phase-contrast microscope, by/in contrast, compare and contrast, in marked contrast to, in stark/marked/sharp contrast with/to, in striking contrast to/with, stand in striking contrast to/with

Frequently Asked Questions about Contrast

What does "Contrast" mean?

"Contrast" means to set off in contrast, compare or appraise in respect to differences —often used with to or with. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to set off in contrast, compare or appraise in respect to differences —often used with to or with. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Contrast"?

Other words for "Contrast" include difference, disagreement, discrepancy, disparateness, disparity, dissimilarity, dissimilitude and distance. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Contrast" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Contrast"?

There are 52 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Contrast". Common alternatives include difference, disagreement, discrepancy, disparateness, disparity, dissimilarity, dissimilitude, distance, distinction and distinctiveness.

What is the opposite of "Contrast"?

Antonyms of "Contrast" include alikeness, analogousness, analogy, community, likeness, resemblance, sameness and similarity. Near antonyms include identicalness, identity, accordance and agreement.

How do you use "Contrast" in a sentence?

Examples of "Contrast" in a sentence: "the contrast between the two approaches to the problem of overeating could not be greater"; "her depressed mood today contrasts sharply with her good spirits yesterday".

Is "Contrast" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Contrast" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Contrast" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Contrast" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Contrast"?

"Contrast" is pronounced /kən-ˈtrast/ as a verb and /ˈkän-ˌtrast/ as a noun and divided into syllables as con·trast.