adversative

9.3

Showing a contrast between two ideas, as in the word but

adjective
/ˈæd.vɚ.sə.tɪv/

Specialized

: adversativo

In contrast to the earlier argument, the author presented an adversative viewpoint that challenged the status quo.
adversative connectives
adversative relation

Examples

Is there a relationship between temporal, causal, adversative, and additive connectives and good readers' level of reading comprehension?

Academic text (2015)
Conjunctive relationships between clauses were used to examine the processing of causal and adversative relationships within sentences.

Academic text (2013)
It appears possible that adversative relations turn out to be the most difficult on the list.

Academic text (2013)
Spenser's favorite adversative conjunction in The Shepheardes Calender would seem to be but.

Academic text (2005)
On the other hand, the findings regarding the relationship between the poor readers' level of reading comprehension and adversative and additive connectives do not support this view of Haberlandt's.

Academic text (2015)
The present study has shown that although causal relations between clauses are moderately difficult to comprehend for fifth-grade readers, adversative relations cause major problems for many students.

Academic text (2013)
For example, our research has revealed that students rarely employ adversative connectives in their writing, even in the case of persuasive essays in which adversative connectives such as nonetheless and whereas are very effective in refuting counterarguments (Crosson et al., 2012).

Academic text (2013)
For example, our research has revealed that students rarely employ adversative connectives in their writing, even in the case of persuasive essays in which adversative connectives such as nonetheless and whereas are very effective in refuting counterarguments (Crosson et al., 2012).

Academic text (2013)
The use of adversative conjunctions, such as 'but' and 'however', helps to clarify conflicting ideas within a sentence.
Her adversative remarks during the debate highlighted the flaws in her opponent's reasoning.

Synonyms

antithetical

vsadversative

12 8.4

Directly opposed in beliefs or purpose

focuses on contrast as a grammatical or connective relation rather than broad incompatibility

oppositive

vsadversative

Specialized

9.6

Showing a clear difference between two ideas

is the same idea but focuses on grammatical expression of antithesis

antithetic

vsadversative

9.3

Directly opposite in idea or purpose

highlights contrast in language use rather than personal or purpose traits

contrastive

vsadversative

6.8

Showing a clear difference between two things to make them easier to see

indicates a stronger sense of opposition or antithesis rather than simple distinction

Antonyms

concordant

1 7.3

In agreement with others or showing the same result

Compounds

adversative conjunction

Specialized

7.9

A word that connects two ideas to show contrast, like but

How Contrasting

antithetical

12 8.4

oppositional

5 6.6

adversative

Specialized

9.3

contrastive

6.8

Surface Forms

adversative positive

Morphology

adversative = adverse (semi-transparent) = adverse + ative

Formally derived from 'adverse' with the adjectival suffix '-ative', but the grammatical sense 'expressing contrast' is specialized and not directly predictable from the everyday sense of 'adverse'.

Etymology

Adversative comes from Latin parts ad- 'to' and vers- 'turn', so it originally meant 'turned toward' or 'against'. You can see the same idea in adverse, adversary, and versus, written as 'vs.', and that is why an adversative word shows contrast or opposition.