1
as in foes
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 enemies
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.
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Recent Examples of opponents
In New York City, State Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani won the mayoral race against high-profile opponents.
—
Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
A number of billionaires collectively spent more than $22 million to back Mamdani’s opponents, according to Forbes.
—Nino Paoli, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2025
The emphasis on a candidate's identity was particularly heightened in this race -- something that has been embraced by Mamdani's campaign and supporters, but attacked by his opponents.
—Emily Chang, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2025
Kelly was fired after losing three straight games to ranked opponents following a 5-0 start to the season.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Hatch, a political newcomer who works as chief data and analytics officer for the city of Charlotte, outraised her opponents and every other school board candidate in this year’s election.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 5 Nov. 2025
His Justice Department indicted his political opponents.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2025
At that point, Category 6 opponents argue, there’s little further distinction to be made about just how dire the situation will be.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 29 Oct. 2025
Maranatha Christian won eight in a row and is outscoring its opponents 343-93.
—John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Oct. 2025
Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
A number of billionaires collectively spent more than $22 million to back Mamdani’s opponents, according to Forbes.
—Nino Paoli, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2025
The emphasis on a candidate's identity was particularly heightened in this race -- something that has been embraced by Mamdani's campaign and supporters, but attacked by his opponents.
—Emily Chang, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2025
Kelly was fired after losing three straight games to ranked opponents following a 5-0 start to the season.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Hatch, a political newcomer who works as chief data and analytics officer for the city of Charlotte, outraised her opponents and every other school board candidate in this year’s election.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 5 Nov. 2025
His Justice Department indicted his political opponents.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2025
At that point, Category 6 opponents argue, there’s little further distinction to be made about just how dire the situation will be.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 29 Oct. 2025
Maranatha Christian won eight in a row and is outscoring its opponents 343-93.
—John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for opponents
Noun
-
Some of them were former foes, while others are superstars he's never faced in the ring.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Trump’s tariff strong-arming has rattled relationships with America’s friends and foes.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Lower courts have ruled Trump overstepped his authority under a law historically used for imposing economic sanctions and other penalties on foreign enemies.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Price, a former Navy man, is conveying the exhaustion of Black sailors and soldiers in a military that continues to enshrine—most recently, in the names of Army bases—its Confederate enemies.—
Julian Lucas,
New Yorker,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
What are my rivals doing with gen AI?—
Harvard Business Review,
Harvard Business Review,
5 Nov. 2025
-
His legitimacy, lineage, gender and Protestant religion gave him the edge over his rivals, even if there were still doubts over the legality of his claim.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 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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As such, this is a program that will be very interesting to see develop over the coming years and one that the Russian Navy's key adversaries will be watching very closely, as this weapon moves toward operational capability.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
However, declining shopper traffic in malls, the ongoing consumer migration toward e-commerce and the pandemic altered the dynamic between the two mall competitors.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Its transparent pricing, with no contracts, data caps or hidden fees, sets it apart from many competitors.—
Roxanne Downer,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Opponents.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opponents. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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