opponent
Use Opponent in a sentence
nənt noun
1.
a person who is on an opposing side in a game, contest, controversy, or the like; adversary.
adjective
2.
being opposite, as in position.
3.
opposing; adverse; antagonistic.
4.
Anatomy. bringing parts together or into opposition, as a muscle.
Origin:
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
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
Synonyms
1. antagonist. 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.
1. antagonist. 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.
Antonyms
1. ally, friend.
1. ally, friend.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To opponent
00:10
Opponent
is always a great word to know.
So is spinal nerve. Does it mean:
| either one of the seventh pair of cranial nerves composed of motor fibers that control muscles of the face except those used in chewing |
| a series of paired nerves that originate in the spinal cord and emerge, branching out to the region of the neck, trunk, or limbs |
Collins
World English Dictionary
opponent (əˈpəʊnənt) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | a person who opposes another in a contest, battle, etc |
| 2. | anatomy an opponent muscle |
| —adj | |
| 3. | opposite, as in position |
| 4. | anatomy (of a muscle) bringing two parts into opposition |
| 5. | opposing; contrary |
| [C16: from Latin oppōnere to oppose, from ob- against + pōnere to place] | |
| op'ponency | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
opponent
1588, from L. opponentem (nom. opponens), prp. of opponere "oppose, object to, set against," from ob "against" + ponere "to put, set, place" (see position).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Cite This Source
Example sentences
People try harder to beat a weakling than to topple a higher-ranked opponent.
Attacking with gusto is not a sure thing either against a wily opponent.
Players determine whether an opponent is within a few hundred yards of them, then fire messages the opponent's way.
The chess game offers a computer-controlled opponent with three skill levels.
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