Contravene

/ˌkɒn.tɹəˈviːn/ · verb

Meaning

(transitive) To act contrary to an order; to fail to conform to a regulation or obligation..

Definitions by Sense

1. (transitive) To act contrary to an order; to fail to conform to a regulation or obligation.
2. (transitive, obsolete) To deny the truth of something.

Example Sentences

[…] nothing is a commandement, or a commanded dutie but that which if we contravene, it maketh us guilty of sin before God,

[…] this Article directly contravenes the Treaty with Portugal […]

I have shown that slavery is wicked […] in that it contravenes the laws of eternal justice, and tramples in the dust all the humane and heavenly precepts of the New Testament.

[…] the other medical visitors having a consultative influence, but no power to contravene Lydgate’s ultimate decisions;

It was a construction in wood, with manifold “features” suggestive of the villa, the bungalow, the chateau, the palace; it united all tastes and contravened all conventions.

Some legal experts argue that the bill contravenes Canada’s charter of rights and freedoms. Montreal constitutional lawyer Julius Grey told the Vancouver Sun that Bill 78 was "flagrantly unconstitutional".

1653, William Birchley, The Christian Moderator, Part 3, London: Richard Lowndes, p. 7, […] to make the contravening of Doctrines, to be capitall, before they be fully proved, is prejudiciall to that liberty, without which none can justify himself before God or Man:

To contravene positions, that have been discussed again and again by writers of the first genius and erudition, and to disparage the genuineness of the bible histories wholly and indiscriminately, without some precision of investigation, some specific allegations, founded on the report of authentic documents, is intolerable arrogance […]

Synonyms for contravene

Antonyms for contravene

Related Words

Word Forms

• contravenes
• contravening
• contravened

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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