opponent
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Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.
opponent
- /əˈpəʊ.nənt/
Where it comes from
Borrowed from Latin oppōnēns (“opposing”), present active participle of oppōnō (“to oppose”).
noun opponents
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One who opposes another; one who works or takes a position against someone or something; one who attempts to stop the progress of someone or something.
The person who ran against her in the last election proved to be a formidable opponent.
Similar: opp
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One who opposes another physically (in a fight, sport, game, or competition).
1720, Alexander Pope, The Iliad of Homer, London: Bernard Lintott, Volume 6, “Observations on the Twenty-Third Book,” no. 39, p. 136,
In the Chariot-Race Achilles is represented as being able to conquer every Opponent […]
Similar: opp
-
One who opposes another in words (in a dispute, argument or controversy).
It is easier to confound than to convince an opponent; the former may be effected by a turn that has more happiness than truth in it.
Similar: opp
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One who is opposed or objects (to a policy, course of action or set of ideas).
She was a dedicated opponent of the death penalty.
Similar: opp
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The participant who opens an academic debate by putting forward objections to a theological or philosophical thesis.
We make the argument appere slender, when we receiue it laughyngly, and declare by wordes, euen at the first, that it is nothyng to the purpose, and so abashe the opponent.
Similar: opp
Similar: adversary, antagonist · Opposite: supporter, proponent, advocate, respondent
adjective more opponent · most opponent
- Opposing; adverse; antagonistic. […] we are to consider enemies as men opponent to peace and justice, and to these they are by warrs to be reduced; And no other ends in the pursuite of enemies by sword and hostile Acts are to be sought for […]
- Situated in front; opposite. Her sympathizing Lover takes his Stand High on th’ opponent Bank […]
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: adversary, antagonist, opposition, foeman, enemy, opposing, hostile, foe, opposite, opposer, objector, opposed, objection, contrary, dissenting, dissident
noun
Similar: adversary, antagonist · Opposite: supporter, proponent, advocate, respondent
Translations
Every language
noun one who opposes another
| Español | oponente, antagonista |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 상대 sangdae |
| 日本語 | 相手 aite |
| 中文 | 對方 /对方 duìfāng |
| हिन्दी | प्रतियोगी pratiyogī, विरोधी virodhī |
| Français | opposant |
| Deutsch | Gegner, Gegnerin |
| Русский | проти́вник protívnik, проти́вница protívnica, оппоне́нт opponént, оппоне́нтка opponéntka |
| العربية | مُنَاوِئ munāwiʔ |
noun one who opposes another physically
| Español | oponente, contrincante |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 對手 /对手 duìshǒu, 敵手 /敌手 díshǒu |
| हिन्दी | विरोधी virodhī |
| Français | adversaire |
| Italiano | avversario |
| Ελληνικά | αντίπαλος antípalos |
| Русский | проти́вник protívnik, проти́вница protívnica |
| العربية | خَصْم ḵaṣm |
noun one who opposes another in words
| Español | adversario |
|---|---|
| العربية | خَصْم ḵaṣm |
noun one who objects to a policy, etc.
| Español | opositor |
|---|
Talk about this word "opponent." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/opponent. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. opponent. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/opponent "opponent." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/opponent.Cite this
@misc{opponent_2026,
title = {opponent},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/opponent},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}