opponent

play

noun op·po·nent \ ə-ˈpō-nənt \

Updated on: 11 Sep 2017

Definition of opponent

1 :one that takes an opposite position (as in a debate, contest, or conflict)

She is a formidable opponent in the race for senator.

opponents of the war

2 :a muscle that opposes or counteracts and limits the action of another

See opponent defined for English-language learners

See opponent defined for kids

Examples of opponent in a Sentence

She is a formidable opponent in the race for senator.
The team's opponents have not lost a game this season.
He knocked out his opponent in the third round.

Recent Examples of opponent from the Web

Failla won a 6-3 set against Amanda Letzring, who reached the second round of last year's CIF tournament, while taking 6-0 victories against her other two Mt. Carmel opponents.

— joe naiman, Ramona Sentinel, "Prep Tennis: Ramona High’s coach pleased with team’s improvement," 29 Aug. 2017
Twitter @TeddyGreenstein Ten college football games to watch involving Big Ten teams and nonconference opponents.

— teddy greenstein, chicagotribune.com, "Some schools make nearly 400 scholarship offers per recruiting class. Why?," 28 Aug. 2017
The Mountain, enraged over his loss to Loras Tyrell at a jousting tournament, seeks revenge and charges his opponent, but The Hound steps in and fights his brother off before King Robert orders them both to stop.

— erica gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "14 Game of Thrones Theories That Will Blow Your Mind in Season 7," 23 Aug. 2017
Murphy will likely prove a formidable opponent in 2018.

— daniela altimari, courant.com, "Corey Planning U.S. Senate Run Against Murphy," 22 Aug. 2017
On Friday, Infowars host and Big Yogurt opponent Alex Jones hit the streets of Seattle ostensibly to rant about USA Today’s coverage of the recent terrorist attack in Barcelona.

— claire landsbaum, The Cut, "Someone Dumped Coffee All Over Alex Jones While He Was Trying to Film in Seattle," 18 Aug. 2017
And here's the scary thing for opponents: Billings sees that as a way to make Geno Atkins' life easier.

— jim owczarski, Cincinnati.com, "Walkthru: Billings making a rushed impression," 17 Aug. 2017
KU opens its season Aug. 25 at North Carolina State, and after a beefed-up nonconference schedule, will begin matches against Big 12 opponents in late September.

— jesse newell, kansascity, "‘Sea of blue’ awaits KU volleyball in Kansas City, but will Jayhawks make it there?," 16 Aug. 2017
Franco's fascist beliefs involved rounding up and executing political opponents and dissenters as well as censoring the media while keeping the country under his complete control through military force.

— lily herman, Teen Vogue, "Fascism, Explained," 16 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'opponent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of opponent

borrowed from Medieval Latin oppōnent-, oppōnens "one who proposes something for discussion," from present participle of Latin oppōnere "to place as an obstacle, set in opposition to, argue in reply" — more at oppose

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1553

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opponent Synonyms

Synonyms

adversary, antagonist, foe, rival

Antonyms

amigo, friend

Related Words

equal, match; enemy; archenemy, nemesis; competitor, contestant; bane, bête noire, curse; assailant, attacker, combatant, invader

Near Antonyms

accomplice, ally, confederate, partner; advocate, champion, exponent, proponent, supporter, sympathizer

opponent

adjective

Definition of opponent

1 :antagonistic, opposing

2 :situated in front

Recent Examples of opponent from the Web

Another highlight on the slate is a trip to Tuscon, Ariz., to play Pac-12 opponent Arizona on Dec. 3.

— tod leonard, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Bahamas trip included in schedule for SDSU women's basketball," 9 Aug. 2017
Milpitas was scheduled to host Mission San Jose at SummitPointe Golf Course on Wednesday and to play league opponent Wilcox at Santa Clara Golf and Tennis Club on Thursday.

— julian ramos, The Mercury News, "Milpitas: Trojans baseball tops Branham High," 23 Mar. 2017

Origin and Etymology of opponent

borrowed from Latin oppōnent-, oppōnens, present participle of oppōnere "to place as an obstacle, set in opposition to, argue in reply" — more at oppose

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1647

See Words from the same year

OPPONENT Defined for English Language Learners

opponent

play

noun

Definition of opponent for English Language Learners

: a person, team, group, etc., that is competing against another in a contest
: a person, group, etc., that is against something (such as an action, law, or system) : someone or something that does not want something to exist, be done, etc.