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.

BofA said that contrarian bulls are also buying bonds on rate cut expectations as well as real estate investment trusts.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

That’s because the mood on Wall Street in March and early April hasn’t been pessimistic enough to trigger a contrarian buy signal.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

The U.S. stock-market correction has more downside ahead, according to contrarian analysts.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 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

Given that there is some rough economic estimate of a stock’s value, regression to the mean can sometimes be used to justify a kind of contrarian strategy.

From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos