вопреки vs несмотря на
vopreki vs nesmotrya na — contrary to/despite vs despite/in spite of
Register: neutral / formal
What it really means
Вопреки takes the dative and says an action goes against an expectation, instruction, or person’s wishes. Несмотря на takes the accusative and presents a circumstance that did not prevent the result. Despite the visual resemblance, their government and rhetorical focus differ.
Examples in natural speech
Вопреки прогнозу пошёл снег.
Contrary to the forecast, it snowed.
Он поступил вопреки совету врача.
He acted against the doctor’s advice.
Несмотря на дождь, мы гуляли.
Despite the rain, we went for a walk.
Несмотря на усталость, она продолжила.
Despite her fatigue, she continued.
Вопреки желанию родителей он уехал.
Against his parents’ wishes, he left.
Common mistakes
Use dative after вопреки (вопреки плану) and accusative after несмотря на (несмотря на планы). Write несмотря на together as a preposition; literal «не смотря» means “not looking.”
Memory tip
Вопреки fights a plan; несмотря на walks past an obstacle.
Frequently asked questions
Why is прогноз dative after вопреки?
Вопреки governs the dative: вопреки прогнозу, вопреки обстоятельствам, вопреки ему.
Can несмотря на introduce a clause?
Yes in «несмотря на то, что…», where то is accusative and the subordinate clause follows что.
Is вопреки always negative?
No; it simply marks opposition to an expectation or instruction, whether the outcome is good or bad.
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