contrarian

[kuhn-trair-ee-uhn] / kənˈtrɛər i ən /

NOUN

one who takes an opposing view

Synonyms

STRONG

antagonist

WEAK

adversary debater opponent

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Citadel said that retail investors are increasingly contrarian by nature, and the recent selling during rallies supports this.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

This contrarian rebalancing tactic of selling top performers to pay for new bets adds “modest value over the long run,” writes Trivariate Research President Adam Parker.

From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026

“We believe this combination of severe price compression, completely exhausted market breadth, and extreme pessimism is not a cause for panic, but rather a classic contrarian trading opportunity,” they wrote.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

The indicator is interpreted in a contrarian way, with higher values showing lower subsequent returns, and vice versa.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 25, 2026

“I hadn’t really thought about it, but I guess I was a contrarian too.”

From "The First Rule of Punk" by Celia C. Pérez