opponent

[ uh-poh-nuhnt ]
See synonyms for: opponentopponents on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. a person who is on an opposing side in a game, contest, controversy, or the like; adversary.

adjective
  1. being opposite, as in position.

  2. opposing; adverse; antagonistic.

  1. Anatomy. bringing parts together or into opposition, as a muscle.

Origin of opponent

1
1580–90; <Latin oppōnent- (stem of oppōnēns, present participle of oppōnere to place over, against, or in front of, make an obstacle), equivalent to op-op- + pōn(ere) to place, set, put + -ent--ent

synonym study For opponent

1. Opponent, competitor, rival refer to persons engaged in a contest. Opponent is the most impersonal, meaning merely one who opposes; perhaps one who continually blocks and frustrates or one who happens to be on the opposite side in a temporary contest: an opponent in a debate. Competitor emphasizes the action in striving against another, or others, for a definite, common goal: competitors in business. Rival has both personal and emotional connotations; it emphasizes the idea that (usually) two persons are struggling to attain the same object: rivals for an office.

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Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use opponent in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for opponent

opponent

/ (əˈpəʊnənt) /


noun
  1. a person who opposes another in a contest, battle, etc

  2. anatomy an opponent muscle

adjective
  1. opposite, as in position

  2. anatomy (of a muscle) bringing two parts into opposition

  1. opposing; contrary

Origin of opponent

1
C16: from Latin oppōnere to oppose, from ob- against + pōnere to place

Derived forms of opponent

  • opponency, noun

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