OPPONENT Synonyms: 58 Similar and Opposite Words

opponent

noun

ə-ˈpō-nənt

Definition of opponent

as in foe

one that takes a position opposite another in a competition or conflict in martial arts, before the match begins, always bow to your opponent

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in enemy

one that is hostile toward another the senator has many political opponents who would love to ruin his career

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of opponent Opposition contacts Rivera and his lawyers relied heavily on his contacts with Maduro opponents to argue that the government had misconstrued his work. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026 Tinubu will face familiar opponents Atiku Abubakar — who has pledged to reinstate fuel subsidies — and Peter Obi in a repeat of the last presidential election. — Paige Bruton, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026 Death penalty opponents say Pike’s case highlights the inherent cruelty of capital punishment and have called for Tennessee officials to make the results of the investigation public. — Victoria Craw, Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2026 The Bears slightly outgained the Seminoles 115-112 in the second half, holding their opponents to 13 fourth-quarter yards. — Arkansas Online, 27 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for opponent

Recent Examples of Synonyms for opponent

Noun

That will come on Wednesday night, as the Yankees are hoping to move right to the ALDS to face another AL East foe – the AL’s best Tampa Bay Rays – with Max Fried on the bump.

— Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026
But the world might not want another one, and both human foes and spiritual enemies are hunting her.

— K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of foe

Noun

Drawing on authoritarianism scholars, the piece contends that linking criticism of Trump to hostility toward America can stigmatize dissent and make opponents appear to be enemies of the country.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
One of them, journalist Tomas, goes public with the information, unleashing powerful enemies.

— K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of enemy

Noun

Gaines was also in the building that night, and her adversary and Olympic legend Simone Biles was the team's guest of honor for that game.

— Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026
Recent polling suggests Americans broadly agree with their push to slow down AI development, as the communist adversary the leftists support is powering ahead with the technology for military purposes.

— Hudson Crozier, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of adversary

Browse Nearby Words

opinions

opponent

opponents

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Opponent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opponent. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of opponent

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

regimen

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes