The phrase "was contrary to" is typically used to express opposition or contradiction between two things. There are many synonyms for this phrase, including "went against," "clashed with," "contradicted," "disagreed with," "defied," "refuted," "withstood," "resisted," "antagonized," "countered," "opposed," and "challenged." Each of these synonyms has its own nuance and level of severity. For example, "went against" may imply a less intense level of contradiction compared to "defied" or "antagonized." Regardless of which synonym is used, they all convey the sense of opposition or conflict between two things or ideas.