as in different
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as in differing
to be unlike; to not be the same
her depressed mood today contrasts sharply with her good spirits yesterday
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Recent Examples of contrasting
Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Feb. 2026
Guardiola may have defensive injury issues, too, but the respective physical toll exerted could not be more contrasting.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
For instance, a classic contrasting pairing is oysters and stout.
—Jay R. Brooks, Mercury News, 24 Nov. 2025
Esplar Logo Leather Sneakers These Esplar sneakers stay true to Veja’s classic style while featuring a contrasting brown rubber outsole that makes the white leather pop.
—Melony Forcier, Travel + Leisure, 21 Nov. 2025
Tyla’s bold look wholly centered her jacket, featuring shells with a shine of muted golds and silver throughout to accentuate the style and add contrasting tones to the overall look.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 31 Oct. 2025
Solid colorways can be mixed and matched, while contrasting edge-trim ensures these never fall flat on your tablescape.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 23 Oct. 2025
The 2025 versions have much more contrasting offensive styles.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 12 Oct. 2025
The national soccer teams of Argentina and Venezuela enter their friendly match at Hard Rock Stadium on Friday night in starkly contrasting situations.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2025
Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 10 Feb. 2026
The jacket for the skirt suit look featured long sleeves, a sleek front placket and sinuous lapels and collar with contrasting fabric elements.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 10 Feb. 2026
Speaking further with Carolla about the matter on his show this week, Maher pointed out that his brand is even-handed in its approach to political jokes — contrasting Kimmel’s left-leaning humor.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 10 Feb. 2026
Instead of the sharp contrasting flavors that a traditional spritz provides, this one is all about umami, minerality, and a softness that suits the way most people want to drink during the winter.
—Chadner Navarro, Vogue, 10 Feb. 2026
Best known for its tall, blue and white-painted ceramic bottles, Clase Azul carefully translated the signature look to its new house, contrasting stark blue textiles and designs with warmer tones like natural wood and rich greenery.
—Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 10 Feb. 2026
Trees and bucks cover eco-friendly cork wallpaper that ties to an antelope statue to signal the travels of Edgar Perry while Lutie’s (his wife) room is its opposite with light salmon shades contrasting wild leopard carpet and soft velvets.
—Mandy Ellis, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Feb. 2026
The contrasting strength of the two benches was stark.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Despite their contrasting backgrounds, together Joly and Brunet proved unstoppable, transforming pairs skating.
—Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Luna suggests using a mosaic pattern in your flooring or shower tile, adding a contrasting shower niche, or installing a colored marble shower curb for high-impact ways to get in on these color trends.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Feb. 2026
Guardiola may have defensive injury issues, too, but the respective physical toll exerted could not be more contrasting.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
For instance, a classic contrasting pairing is oysters and stout.
—Jay R. Brooks, Mercury News, 24 Nov. 2025
Esplar Logo Leather Sneakers These Esplar sneakers stay true to Veja’s classic style while featuring a contrasting brown rubber outsole that makes the white leather pop.
—Melony Forcier, Travel + Leisure, 21 Nov. 2025
Tyla’s bold look wholly centered her jacket, featuring shells with a shine of muted golds and silver throughout to accentuate the style and add contrasting tones to the overall look.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 31 Oct. 2025
Solid colorways can be mixed and matched, while contrasting edge-trim ensures these never fall flat on your tablescape.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 23 Oct. 2025
The 2025 versions have much more contrasting offensive styles.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 12 Oct. 2025
The national soccer teams of Argentina and Venezuela enter their friendly match at Hard Rock Stadium on Friday night in starkly contrasting situations.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
Judges have disagreed about these athletes’ legal arguments and reached contrasting rulings; some players are given the chance to play and earn NIL and revenue-share money, while others have been denied.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 10 Feb. 2026
The jacket for the skirt suit look featured long sleeves, a sleek front placket and sinuous lapels and collar with contrasting fabric elements.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 10 Feb. 2026
Speaking further with Carolla about the matter on his show this week, Maher pointed out that his brand is even-handed in its approach to political jokes — contrasting Kimmel’s left-leaning humor.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 10 Feb. 2026
Instead of the sharp contrasting flavors that a traditional spritz provides, this one is all about umami, minerality, and a softness that suits the way most people want to drink during the winter.
—Chadner Navarro, Vogue, 10 Feb. 2026
Best known for its tall, blue and white-painted ceramic bottles, Clase Azul carefully translated the signature look to its new house, contrasting stark blue textiles and designs with warmer tones like natural wood and rich greenery.
—Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 10 Feb. 2026
Trees and bucks cover eco-friendly cork wallpaper that ties to an antelope statue to signal the travels of Edgar Perry while Lutie’s (his wife) room is its opposite with light salmon shades contrasting wild leopard carpet and soft velvets.
—Mandy Ellis, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Feb. 2026
The contrasting strength of the two benches was stark.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Despite their contrasting backgrounds, together Joly and Brunet proved unstoppable, transforming pairs skating.
—Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 3 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contrasting
Adjective
-
The disappearance of Savannah Guthrie’s mom has left a lot of people scrambling in different ways.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Woodblock plans to work with leading animation studios from around the world to animate episodes that feature creatures from different countries and regions.—
Ed Meza,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In the new work, Milton and her colleagues examined the ratio of different isotopes—forms of atoms with differing numbers of uncharged neutrons in their nucleus—of carbon, nitrogen and sulfur in maize cobs archaeologists had uncovered from the Chincha Valley.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
11 Feb. 2026
-
That lauded meal plan also offers differing guidance and points of emphasis.—
Madeline Holcombe,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
What brought about these disparate reactions?—
Kevin Igoe,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Last year Trump issued an executive order intending to eliminate the use of disparate impact.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The neckline and bodice also featured contrasted fabric to the more muted emerald tone of the midi dress.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Its light blue gingham plaid is made of cotton fabric, and the stocking is adorned with a mint green bow for a contrasted look.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
And the guest appearance by the incomparable Missy Elliott — giving, for the time, an all-too-rare Super Bowl spotlight on hip-hop — helped take the whole shebang to the next level.—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Set in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne and the last dragon has not yet passed from living memory, great destinies, powerful foes and dangerous exploits all await these improbable and incomparable friends.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contrasting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contrasting. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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