DEFINITIONS
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opponent

[ uh-poh-nuhnt ]
/ əˈpoʊ nənt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR opponent ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

adjective

being opposite, as in position.
opposing; adverse; antagonistic.
Anatomy. bringing parts together or into opposition, as a muscle.

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Words related to opponent

enemy, competitor, candidate, foe, rival, player, challenger, opposition, aspirant, adversary, opposer, assailant, bandit, entrant, contestant, match, antagonist, con, disputant, anti

Words nearby opponent

oppenheimer, oppenheimer, j. robert, oppidan, oppilate, opponency, opponent, opportune, opportunism, opportunist, opportunistic, opportunistic infection

Origin of opponent

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

SYNONYMS FOR opponent

1 antagonist. 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.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR opponent ON THESAURUS.COM
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for opponent

British Dictionary definitions for opponent

opponent
/ (əˈpəʊnənt) /

noun

a person who opposes another in a contest, battle, etc
anatomy an opponent muscle

adjective

opposite, as in position
anatomy (of a muscle) bringing two parts into opposition
opposing; contrary

Derived forms of opponent

opponency, noun

Word Origin for opponent

C16: from Latin oppōnere to oppose, from ob- against + pōnere to place
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012