the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
n. state or quality of being contrary; opposition; inconsistency; contrariety; perverseness; obstinacy.
The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
n. Contrariety; opposition; antagonism.
n. Perverseness; habitual obstinacy.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
n. deliberate and stubborn unruliness and resistance to guidance or discipline
n. a fussy and eccentric disposition
Word Usage
"To be believable to the reader, they can’t be blatantly contradictory ie today they hate Jane, tomorrow they love Jane – unless that very contrariness is part of the plot."