благодаря - thanks to
вопреки - in spite of,
despite навстречу - towards, to meet
подобно - likewise
согласно - in accordance with
Благодаря маме я выросла умной девушкой. Thanks to my mother, I grew up a smart girl. (Thanks to whom?)
Он был быстрым подобно ветру. He was fast like a wind. (He was fast like what?)