A politician's opponents are other politicians who belong to a different party or who have different aims or policies.
...Mr Kennedy's opponent in the leadership contest. [+ in]
He described the detention without trial of political opponents as a cowardly act.
Synonyms: adversary, rival, enemy, the opposition More Synonyms of opponent
2. countable noun [usually poss NOUN]
In a sporting contest, your opponent is the person who is playing against you.
Norris twice knocked down his opponent in the early rounds of the fight.
He's the best opponent I've come across this season, a great player.
3. countable noun
The opponentsof an idea or policy do not agree with it and do not want it to be carried out.
...opponents of the spread of nuclear weapons. [+ of]
He became an outspoken opponent of the government.
Synonyms: opposer, dissident, objector, dissentient More Synonyms of opponent
opponent in British English
(əˈpəʊnənt)
noun
1.
a person who opposes another in a contest, battle, etc
2. anatomy
an opponent muscle
adjective
3.
opposite, as in position
4. anatomy
(of a muscle) bringing two parts into opposition
5.
opposing; contrary
Derived forms
opponency (opˈponency)
noun
Word origin
C16: from Latin oppōnere to oppose, from ob- against + pōnere to place
opponent in American English
(əˈpoʊnənt)
noun
1.
a person who opposes; person against one in a fight, game, debate, argument, etc.; adversary
adjective
2. Rare
opposite, as in position
3.
opposing; adverse; antagonistic
4. Anatomy
bringing parts into opposition
said of a muscle
SYNONYMY NOTE: opponent, an unemotional word, refers to anyone who is opposed to one, as in a fight, game,debate, etc.; , antagonist implies more active opposition, especially in a struggle for control or power; , adversary usually suggests actual hostility in the conflict; , UNRESOLVED CROSS REF may imply actual hatred in the opponent and a desire to injure, or it may simplyrefer to any member of the opposing group, nation, etc., whether or not there is personalanimosity or hostility involved; , foe, now a somewhat literary synonym for , UNRESOLVED CROSS REF, connotes more active hostility
OPPOSITES: ally, confederate
Word origin
< L opponens, prp. of opponere < ob- (see ob-) + ponere, to place: see position
COBUILD Collocations
opponent
beat an opponent
difficult opponent
face an opponent
formidable opponent
hurt opponents
illustrious opponent
political opponent
superior opponent
tough opponent
Examples of 'opponent' in a sentence
opponent
It was a tough night for us from tough opponents.
The Sun (2016)
It was designed to detain political opponents.
The Sun (2016)
Clearly the opponents cannot have two cashing aces.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We played quite well today but the opponents arrive and score goals.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
All eight players who qualify are really tough opponents.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He said the allegations were made by political opponents and people who did not understand his personal style.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Next opponents Spurs should be getting worried.
The Sun (2016)
Opponents say another shake-up is the last thing that schools need.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
In a game against two or three opponents, it's orange and red that you want to be targeting.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Who is your toughest opponent in the heptathlon?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Some of them were political opponents who saw a chance to make money.
Malcolm Balen A VERY ENGLISH DECEIT: The Secret History of the South Sea Bubble and the First GreatFinancial Scandal (2002)
The two opponents have been chalk and cheese.
The Sun (2012)
Your real opponents are the players playing with your cards at other tables.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He is also an opponent of education policy.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
His opponents in the party lie low and bide their time.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They represent tenacity and overcoming opponents after a fight.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
City will be feeling it a lot more than their opponents in their next two games and that is dangerous.
The Sun (2014)
The surge in arms sales has fuelled accusations by rival political factions that opponents are building militias in anticipation of war.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Who has been your toughest opponent?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
I wanted to give him his chance because he had shown he was a player who could beat opponents with pace.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In Paralympic judo, competitors are allowed to have contact with their opponents before each contest begins.
The Sun (2012)
He was also a staunch opponent of apartheid South Africa.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Today 's opponents Uruguay are the only country yet to concede points from a penalty kick.
The Sun (2015)
People set up straw men when they argue against positions that their opponents have not taken or when, without evidence, they attribute bad motives to opponents.
Marius, Richard A Short Guide to Writing About History (1995)
But in the course of this plucky little competitor's third contest, his opponent recognized him as the man he had just fought and had him disqualified.
Tibballs, Geoff Great Sporting Failures (1993)
Word lists with
opponent
muscle
In other languages
opponent
British English: opponent /əˈpəʊnənt/ NOUN
A politician's opponents are other politicians who belong to a different party or have different aims or policies.
...Mr. Kennedy's opponent in the contest.
American English: opponent
Arabic: خَصّمٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: adversário
Chinese: 对手
Croatian: protivnik
Czech: protivník
Danish: modstander
Dutch: tegenstander
European Spanish: adversario
Finnish: vastustaja
French: opposant
German: Gegner
Greek: αντίπαλος
Italian: avversario
Japanese: 敵対者
Korean: 대항자
Norwegian: motstander
Polish: przeciwnik
European Portuguese: adversário
Romanian: adversar
Russian: оппонент
Latin American Spanish: adversario
Swedish: motståndare
Thai: ฝ่ายตรงข้าม
Turkish: karşıt
Ukrainian: опонент
Vietnamese: đối thủ
Chinese translation of 'opponent'
opponent
(əˈpəunənt)
n(c)
(= adversary) (in competition, fight, election) 对(對)手 (duìshǒu) (个(個), gè)