English Reference

Word

contrasted

Phoneticscon·trast·ed

US/kənˈtɹæstəd/

UK/kəntɹˈɑːstɪd/

Definition

adj. looking or feeling very different from something else. You use this to describe two things that are placed together to show their differences.

adj. exhibiting a striking difference when compared with something else. Often used predicatively after a linking verb or as a participial adjective to highlight divergent qualities.

Examples

“The bright flowers looked beautiful against the contrasted dark background.”

“The designer used highly contrasted colors to ensure the text was easy to read for everyone.”

“The author presents two contrasted worlds: the cold, industrial city and the warm, vibrant countryside, using them to explore themes of isolation and community.”

Examples

simple

“The bright flowers looked beautiful against the contrasted dark background.”

contextual

“The designer used highly contrasted colors to ensure the text was easy to read for everyone.”

complex

“The author presents two contrasted worlds: the cold, industrial city and the warm, vibrant countryside, using them to explore themes of isolation and community.”

Usage

Often follows a linking verb like 'be' or 'become'; frequently paired with the preposition 'with'.

Pitfall

The red is contrasted to the blue.

The red is contrasted with the blue.

When describing a state of difference, 'with' is the standard preposition used after this form.

Real-World Examples

“He contrasted shortages of fertilizer, fuel and road-building materials in Nepal with the speed at which weapons move around the world.”
UN News · 25 Sept 2026
“Cienciano’s red jerseys contrasted with the Plateresque facade of the Church of San Francisco and the cloudy sky behind them.”
The Guardian · 16 Sept 2026

Etymology

From contrast + -ed.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/contrasted

English Reference