opposed

[uh-pohzd]

adjective

1. hostile or resistant (usually followed byto ).

   At a town hall meeting about the proposed desalination plant, most speakers were opposed, citing high costs and the effect on marine life.

   Some educators are opposed to bringing new media tools into classes, viewing them as a potential distraction for students.

2. having contrary effects; operating at cross-purposes.

   How do we interpret these seemingly opposed trends—away from organized religion and toward the formation of strong spiritual beliefs?

3. set against or contrasted with something else or with each other; viewed as contrary or competing.

   The opposed images on the book’s title page represent the two very different understandings of “home” featured in the narrative.

4. situated, existing, or growing in opposite directions.

   There are two diametrically opposed arrows on the signpost, and we have no idea which one to follow.

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of oppose.

Other Word Forms

• preopposed adjective
• quasi-opposed adjective
• unopposed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of opposed¹

First recorded in 1450–1500; oppose ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. as opposed to, in contrast to; rather than.

   The new boss is intuitive as opposed to analytical, and conflict-shy as opposed to aggressive.

Example Sentences

"It appears that when each concept retained in memory is characterized in terms of seven features -- as opposed to, say, five or eight -- the number of distinct objects held in memory is maximized."

Read more on Science Daily

However, the Motion Picture Association and the Streaming Innovation Alliance, which represent streaming services including Disney and Netflix, initially opposed the bill.

Read more on BBC

But it was opposed by groups including the California Farm Bureau.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Environmentalists and indigenous groups have also long opposed the project.

Read more on BBC

For months, the area has become the site of nightly clashes between federal agents and protesters, dressed in black, who are opposed to immigration arrests.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• anti 
• antithetical 
• averse 
• disputed 
• hostile 
• inimical 
• opposing