contrast (someone or something) with (someone or something)

To highlight the differences between two people or things. A noun or pronoun can be used between "contrast" and "with." Now contrast Joe's unenthusiastic reaction with Sally's unbridled glee over the news. It's only when you contrast our new project manager with the last one that you realize how inefficient the latter had been. It's easy to contrast my college experience with my sister's because I had zero interest in Greek life, and she was a total party girl.

See also: contrast

contrast with (someone or something)

To be obviously or clearly different from something else. I think the paint color of the trim contrasts with the walls nicely. I should do an accent nail? OK, then, what shade of nail polish would contrast well with this bubblegum pink? Yeah, the pattern of that chair definitely contrasts with the rug, but it's not exactly visually pleasing, in my opinion.

See also: contrast

contrast (someone or something) with (someone or something else)

and contrast (someone or something) to (someone or something else)

to examine people or things in a way that will show their differences. Contrast Sally with Sam, for instance, to see real differences. Contrast the busy geometry of a Gothic cathedral to the simple lines of an old Saxon castle.

See also: contrast

contrast with someone or something

1. to be different from someone or something. Bill's cheery attitude really contrasts with the gloom of his twin brother, Bob. This stiped tie really contrasts with that polka-dot shirt.

2. [for a color or pattern, etc.] to show a marked difference with or complement another. The black one contrasts nicely with the white one.

See also: contrast

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References in periodicals archive

Despite the potential implications of contrast with humans (e.g., treatment of disruptive behavior in one setting may worsen behavior in another setting, contrast may be more likely to occur at different times of day), the vast majority of research on contrast has been conducted with nonhumans.

Because of the paucity of research on contrast with humans, we chose to use criteria that would maximize the likelihood of detecting an effect, although it might be the case that doing so resulted in a Type I error.

A human-operant investigation of preceding- and following-schedule behavioral contrast

According to that, the changes in some cases will increase stimulus contrast with the black while in cyan in the same terms stimulus contrast will be reduced.

Evaluation of the influence of the background colour on the perception of the stimulus contrast

And, in contrast with the exterior lightness of the new tower, interior spaces in the link appear heavy, carved rather than constructed.

In contrast with the facile legibility of the older tower's brickwork, the metal cladding is apparently casually crumpled.

Extending eclecticism: Herzog & de Meuron bring a new sense of animation and dynamism to a historic Midwest cultural institution

In Wallin's aesthetic world our thought is directed to the perfected, heroized body, a symmetrical, well-constructed machine, and then to the very stark contrast with a more defective model: a body marked by limitations no one will acknowledge--certainly not in an age of elaborate work outs, obsessive dieting, and plastic surgery.

MAGNUS WALLIN

As in so many other things, Machiavelli was a transitional figure who faced up to the fact that the practitioners of good statecraft, unlike the practitioners of good politics, would in all likelihood go to hell (what a contrast with Cicero's Scipio!).

Political Thought in Europe: 1250-1450

For example, silhouettes can be painted on the wall behind the toilet and the toilet paper holder to make them contrast with the white bathroom walls.

Looking good: what designs work best for residents

Her problems also provide an illuminating contrast with Reaga.

The Iron Lady

In the third experiment of the same study, free operant responding in college students was studied under mult schedules, examining positive contrast with half the subjects and negative contrast with the other half.

Verbal behavior and behavioral contrast in human subjects

And the static, heavily earthbound stretches of almost monolithic buff brick capped by beige concrete forms yet another complementary contrast with the more dynamic arrangement of the windows, especially the broad cills and gutters that slice out at the sky.

Cambridge composure

In contrast with Domenig's earlier and more fiercely expressive work it seems remarkably reserved, and all the better so.

Mining the past

Negative contrast with deprived subjects tended to recover on the second day of downshifts and reoccurred on subsequent shifts.

Effects of present and former deprivation on consummatory contrast