C1 adjective Literary

contramotious

/ˌkɒntrəˈmoʊʃəs/

Describing someone who is intentionally contrary, stubborn, or inclined to act in opposition to others' wishes. It refers to a perverse or difficult temperament that resists cooperation.

Examples

3 of 5
1

My grandfather becomes quite contramotious whenever we suggest a change to his daily routine.

My grandfather becomes quite stubborn and contrary whenever we suggest a change to his daily routine.

2

The negotiations stalled due to a contramotious board member who refused to agree on the final terms.

The negotiations stalled due to a contrary board member who refused to agree on the final terms.

3

Stop being so contramotious and just help me pick a movie to watch!

Stop being so difficult and just help me pick a movie to watch!

Word Family

Noun
contramotiousness
Adverb
contramotiously
Adjective
contramotious
Related
contramotion
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Memory Tip

Break it down: 'Contra' means against. Think of someone who is always in 'motion' against ('contra') everyone else.

Quick Quiz

The toddler was being _____, refusing to wear his shoes even though it was snowing outside.

Correct!

The correct answer is: contramotious

Examples

1

My grandfather becomes quite contramotious whenever we suggest a change to his daily routine.

everyday

My grandfather becomes quite stubborn and contrary whenever we suggest a change to his daily routine.

2

The negotiations stalled due to a contramotious board member who refused to agree on the final terms.

formal

The negotiations stalled due to a contrary board member who refused to agree on the final terms.

3

Stop being so contramotious and just help me pick a movie to watch!

informal

Stop being so difficult and just help me pick a movie to watch!

4

Critics of the era often described the author as a contramotious figure who enjoyed defying literary conventions.

academic

Critics of the era often described the author as an obstinate figure who enjoyed defying literary conventions.

5

The project was delayed by a contramotious client who changed their mind after every milestone.

business

The project was delayed by a difficult client who changed their mind after every milestone.

Word Family

Noun
contramotiousness
Adverb
contramotiously
Adjective
contramotious
Related
contramotion

Common Collocations

contramotious behavior contrary or stubborn behavior
a contramotious streak a tendency toward being stubborn
remarkably contramotious unusually stubborn or difficult
contramotious disposition a difficult or contrary personality
contramotious mood a state of being uncooperative

Common Phrases

in a contramotious fit

during a sudden period of being stubborn

purely contramotious

being difficult for no reason other than to be difficult

contramotious by nature

naturally inclined to be contrary

Often Confused With

contramotious vs contentious

Contentious means causing or likely to cause an argument, while contramotious specifically refers to personal stubbornness or being contrary.

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Usage Notes

This word is relatively rare and carries a literary or old-fashioned tone. It is most frequently used to describe a person's character or a temporary mood of being difficult.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse this with words related to 'motion' or 'movement' because of the root, but it is strictly about behavioral opposition.

💡

Memory Tip

Break it down: 'Contra' means against. Think of someone who is always in 'motion' against ('contra') everyone else.

📖

Word Origin

A dialectal or archaic English term likely formed by combining 'contra-' (against) with a suffix suggesting disposition, similar to 'bumptious' or 'fractious'.

Grammar Patterns

Used as a predicate adjective after linking verbs like 'be' or 'become'. Used as an attributive adjective before nouns.
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Cultural Context

The word is sometimes associated with 19th-century regional British English or Victorian literature used to describe eccentric characters.

Quick Quiz

The toddler was being _____, refusing to wear his shoes even though it was snowing outside.

Correct!

The correct answer is: contramotious

Related Words

abmultant

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To diversify or branch out extensively from a single origin into multiple complex channels, forms, or applications. It describes the process of systemic expansion where a core entity multiplies its variety or reach.

microdoccide

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A specialized chemical substance or agent used to destroy or inhibit the growth of microscopic organisms such as bacteria, fungi, or viruses. It is primarily utilized in industrial, medical, and laboratory settings to ensure sterilization and prevent contamination.

circumminty

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The specific micro-atmosphere or olfactory 'halo' of coolness and freshness that surrounds an aromatic source, particularly mint plants or mentholated substances. It describes the spatial reach of a refreshing scent within a localized environment.

micromortious

C1

To calculate or estimate the minute probability of death associated with a specific action, typically measured in units representing a one-in-a-million chance. This verb is used to statistically assess the inherent danger of activities by quantifying potential mortality risks.

underpeline

C1

To provide a strong foundational support or to reinforce the underlying structure of an argument, theory, or physical entity. It describes the act of strengthening the core elements that hold a complex system or idea together to ensure stability.

misdictious

C1

To communicate or record verbal information inaccurately, specifically by confusing similar-sounding words or misinterpreting dictated instructions. It is primarily used in technical or test-based contexts to describe a failure in precise verbal transmission.

proscriber

C1

To officially forbid or prohibit something by law, decree, or social authority. It can also refer to the act of denouncing or condemning a person or group as harmful or dangerous.

triprehendful

C1

A triprehendful refers to a specific quantity of complex information or a situation that requires three distinct perspectives or levels of analysis to be fully grasped. It describes an amount of data or conceptual difficulty that is multifaceted and cannot be simplified into a binary explanation.

adcedency

C1

Adcedency refers to the state of rising to or holding a position of dominant power, influence, or governing authority. It describes the condition of being in control or having a superior status over others in a specific hierarchy or field.

postdynery

C1

To engage in the practice of lingering at a table after a meal has concluded to enjoy conversation and social bonding. This verb describes the transition from the physical act of eating to the intellectual or social act of communal reflection.

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