oppose

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb oppose differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of oppose are combat, resist, and withstand. While all these words mean "to set oneself against someone or something," oppose can apply to any conflict, from mere objection to bitter hostility or warfare.

opposed the plan

When can combat be used instead of oppose?

Although the words combat and oppose have much in common, combat stresses the forceful or urgent countering of something.

combat disease

When is resist a more appropriate choice than oppose?

While in some cases nearly identical to oppose, resist implies an overt recognition of a hostile or threatening force and a positive effort to counteract or repel it.

resisting temptation

In what contexts can withstand take the place of oppose?

The words withstand and oppose can be used in similar contexts, but withstand suggests a more passive resistance.

trying to withstand peer pressure

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 oppose White told The Star that the recall effort didn’t seriously concern him until April 2024, when White publicly opposed a ballot measure that failed but if passed would have helped pay for a new Royals ballpark and renovations for Chiefs. Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 27 Sep. 2025 In addition to a frosty reception from heads of state opposed to Israel's ongoing military campaign in Gaza, Netanyahu is expected to face protests while in New York. ABC News, 26 Sep. 2025 Kris Seals opposed the project, saying that other apartment developments in the city, such as the upscale The Ruby at Brookfield Square, should already be considered an affordable housing option. Bridget Fogarty, jsonline.com, 26 Sep. 2025 The team has developed an atomically thin material that allows two opposing magnetic forces to coexist, reducing energy use in memory devices by a factor of ten. Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for oppose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oppose
Verb
  • Criminal court records reviewed by PEOPLE show the 35-year-old faces charges of public intoxication, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and a false report.
    Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
  • But previous presidents have resisted the temptation to exploit them, and the law has served as a powerful norm notwithstanding its weaknesses.
    Elizabeth Goitein, Time, 27 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Similarly to their meeting last year, Georgia trailed early and managed to fight its way back.
    Hunter Simpson, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
  • But instead of fighting my body and losing, now my body and I fight together against our enemy, anxiety.
    Jack Korngold, Rolling Stone, 28 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Road ahead To achieve further upside, the company will need to address several factors, including quality and recall issues as well as costs — areas Farley has tried to combat for years.
    Michael Wayland, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
  • This all comes amid multiple feuds between the ADL and several Christian conservatives, including podcasters Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson, and concerns over the rise in antisemitism and whether free speech is being stifled in the name of combating it.
    Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Oppose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oppose. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on oppose

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