1
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
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Recent Examples of opponent
For Eric Weddle and Nick Barnett, playing an opponent for the second time in a football season is no big deal.
—
Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2025
The president has galvanized supporters or alarmed his opponents across the country.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
There’s a post-match debrief as well as a meeting about the next opponents.
—Andy Mitten, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Her opponent, former city council member Tom Carignan, couldn’t be reached for comment.
—Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for opponent
Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2025
The president has galvanized supporters or alarmed his opponents across the country.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
There’s a post-match debrief as well as a meeting about the next opponents.
—Andy Mitten, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Her opponent, former city council member Tom Carignan, couldn’t be reached for comment.
—Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for opponent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for opponent
Noun
-
Trump’s tariff strong-arming has rattled relationships with America’s friends and foes.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Gun down enemies Contra-style, deflect bullets, and enter bullet-time to make quick work of your foes.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
1 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
This means people had to be close enough to see and mark the target, often within range of enemy fire.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Nov. 2025
-
After meeting as children in 1950s Naples, their story goes on to cover over 60 years, exploring the mystery of Lila – Elena’s brilliant best friend and, in a way, her worst enemy.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Once a manufacturing subcontractor of South Korean companies, China has now become their global rival in key industries like EV and electronics.—
Se Eun Gong,
NPR,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Florida had a shot at a program-defining win against the rival that tormented it the most.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Trump levied his greatest assault against the international economic order, announcing the most expansive set of tariffs in American history on both autocratic adversaries and America’s closest democratic allies in April 2025 (Russia was strikingly excluded).—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
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This is a kind of tribal affiliation that depends on an adversary.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Opponent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opponent. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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