1. violate the prohibition or order of (a law, treaty, or code of conduct): "this would contravene the rule against hearsay"Similarbreakbreachfail to comply withfail to observeviolateinfringeoffend againsttransgress againstdefydisobeyfloutinfractOppositeupholdcomply with
▪ conflict with (a right, principle, etc.), especially to its detriment:"this contravened Washington's commitment to its own proposal"Similarconflict withbe in conflict withbe at odds withbe at variance withbe in opposition toclash withrun counter tobe inconsistent withbe contrary to
Word Originmid 16th century: from late Latin contravenire, from Latin contra- ‘against’ + venire ‘come’.
