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
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Recent Examples of opponent
Afterward, Miller — whose campaign opponents say is supported by around $5 million in campaign contributions and independent expenditures tied to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a group that advocates for Israel’s interests — pushed back against Peters’ criticism.
—
Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
The Dragons are 11-8 against CAA opponents.
—ABC News, 8 Mar. 2026
Mitchell’s strength is his on-ball defense, as he’s often tasked with defending the opponent’s top scoring guard.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2026
The Lions, who have outscored their opponents 84-12, have won seven in a row.
—John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for opponent
Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
The Dragons are 11-8 against CAA opponents.
—ABC News, 8 Mar. 2026
Mitchell’s strength is his on-ball defense, as he’s often tasked with defending the opponent’s top scoring guard.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2026
The Lions, who have outscored their opponents 84-12, have won seven in a row.
—John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for opponent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for opponent
Noun
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In Oakland, the company has encountered numerous foes, including former Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price, who unsuccessfully tried to indict Radius on numerous felony charges in 2023 over a massive fire that left black smoke billowing in the sky.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
8 Mar. 2026
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Over that eight-game win streak, only two foes had shot better than 50% from the floor (UNLV, Air Force) and only one — the Zoomies — had connected at a 40% clip or better from beyond the arc.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Meanwhile, the Afghans claimed that more than 50 enemy soldiers had died along the border.—
Mihir Sharma,
Twin Cities,
8 Mar. 2026
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The ship bears the name of a Marine Corps Reserve member who was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1952 for holding off enemy forces and shielding fellow Marines during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War.—
Gary Robbins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The term idols become rivals could apply here, but their brotherhood through their Duke ties keeps their bond strong.—
Mike Curtis,
Dallas Morning News,
6 Mar. 2026
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An eighth-grader at Maranatha Christian School won the county spelling bee Thursday, beating his closest rival after a one-on-one face-off that lasted 13 rounds.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In wartime — when adversaries mine social media for intelligence about targeting accuracy and air defense capabilities — officials are especially sensitive.—
Mohammed Sergie,
semafor.com,
12 Mar. 2026
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So why shouldn’t Trump exploit that fragility to land a death blow against a murderous adversary?—
Franklin Foer,
The Atlantic,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Opponent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opponent. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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