contravene
/ˌkɒn.tɹəˈviːn/
contravene means to act contrary to an order; to fail to conform to a regulation or obligation. It carries an Arena rating of 1603, earned across 5 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, contravene ranks #214 of 13,277 for Best Fossil-Poetry Words, #1,646 of 13,277 for Most Elegant Words, #3,172 of 13,277 for Words That Escaped Their Books, #3,273 of 13,277 for Most Malleable Words.
contravene is pronounced /ˌkɒn.tɹəˈviːn/.
Why “contravene” is a great word
To act in conflict with or violate a law, rule, or principle. Its lineage is from the Latin *contrāvenīre*, from *contrā* ("against") + *venīre* ("to come"), arriving via Middle French *contravenir* and first attested in English in the 1560s. Unlike "contradict," which opposes a statement in logic, or "comply," which yields in accordance, to contravene is to cross a line drawn by authority. It is the ship sailing into forbidden waters, the signature on a proscribed document, the quiet footfall on the manicured lawn behind the stern sign—a coming-against that leaves a tangible trace of a different will.
Etymology
From Middle French contravenir (French contrevenir), from Latin contraveniō.
verb
- To act contrary to an order; to fail to conform to a regulation or obligation.“[…] nothing is a commandement, or a commanded dutie but that which if we contravene, it maketh us guilty of sin before God,”
- To deny the truth of something.“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:”
Words closest in meaning
By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.
- contravention 92% match — The act of contravening (a rule, regulation, law, or order) or of not fulfilling (an obligation, promise, or agreement). vs contravene →
- infringe 86% match — To break or violate a treaty, a law, a right, etc. vs contravene →
- controvert 85% match — To dispute, to argue about (something). vs contravene →
- countermand 84% match — To revoke (a former command); to cancel or rescind by giving an order contrary to one previously given. vs contravene →
- oppugn 84% match — To contradict or controvert; to oppose; to challenge or question the truth or validity of a given statement. vs contravene →
- enjoin 83% match — To lay upon, as an order or command; to give an injunction to; to direct with authority; to order; to charge. vs contravene →
- impugn 83% match — To assault, attack. vs contravene →
- repudiate 83% match — To reject the truth or validity of; to deny. vs contravene →