In a manner that is opposite or contradictory to what is expected or normal.
From 'contrarian' (one who opposes the majority view) plus the adverbial suffix '-ly'. The root comes from Latin 'contrarius' meaning 'opposite,' evolving through Old French to mean someone who acts against conventional thinking.
This word is a favorite of financial investors who deliberately bet against market trends—they're the 'contrarian' traders who often predict bubbles before they burst by thinking exactly opposite to the crowd.
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