opponent

[uh-poh-nuhnt]

noun

1. a person who is on an opposing side in a game, contest, controversy, or the like; adversary.

   Synonyms: antagonist
   Antonyms: friend, ally

adjective

1. being opposite, as in position.

2. opposing; adverse; antagonistic.

3. Anatomy.,  bringing parts together or into opposition, as a muscle.

opponent

/ əˈpəʊnənt /

noun

1. a person who opposes another in a contest, battle, etc

2. anatomy an opponent muscle

adjective

1. opposite, as in position

2. anatomy (of a muscle) bringing two parts into opposition

3. opposing; contrary

Other Word Forms

• opponency noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of opponent¹

1580–90; < Latin oppōnent- (stem of oppōnēns, present participle of oppōnere to place over, against, or in front of, make an obstacle), equivalent to op- op- + pōn ( ere ) to place, set, put + -ent- -ent

Word History and Origins

Origin of opponent¹

C16: from Latin oppōnere to oppose, from ob- against + pōnere to place

Synonym Study

Opponent, competitor, rival refer to persons engaged in a contest. Opponent is the most impersonal, meaning merely one who opposes; perhaps one who continually blocks and frustrates or one who happens to be on the opposite side in a temporary contest: an opponent in a debate. Competitor emphasizes the action in striving against another, or others, for a definite, common goal: competitors in business. Rival has both personal and emotional connotations; it emphasizes the idea that (usually) two persons are struggling to attain the same object: rivals for an office.

Example Sentences

The SNP's political opponents would point to persistent long waits on the NHS, cuts to college budgets and the emergency release of prisoners from overcrowded jails as evidence of failure.

Read more on BBC

In July, Newsom signed into law a rollback of a stringent environmental statute that opponents of new development have used in recent decades to tie up proposed housing projects in litigation, often for years.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Last year, Bowman was an opponent of lowering rates for fear of locking in high inflation, as she dissented from the Fed’s cut of 50 basis points that occurred in September 2024.

Read more on MarketWatch

After getting manhandled by two opponents from the Mountain West Conference, UCLA’s offensive line largely held up against a Penn State defense that was supposed to be the Nittany Lions’ strength.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

She compiled scouting reports on opponents and hand-delivered them to the coaching staff.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• adversary 
• aspirant 
• candidate 
• challenger 
• competitor 
• enemy 
• foe 
• opposition 
• player 
• rival 

When To Use

What does opponent mean?

An opponent is someone who is against another person, as in a game, exhibition, or controversy.Opponent can also sometimes be used to describe being in opposition, as in Felix saw no opponent reason to change his vote.Example: Our opponent is strong, so don’t do anything reckless during the game.