Synonyms

oppose

American

[uh-pohz] / əˈpoʊz /

verb (used with object)

to act against or provide resistance to; combat.

to vigorously oppose tyranny in every form.

Synonyms:

contravene, confront

Antonyms:

succumb, capitulate
to stand in the way of; hinder; obstruct.

Synonyms:

prevent
to set as an opponent or adversary.
to be hostile or adverse to, as in opinion.

to oppose a resolution in a debate.
to set as an obstacle or hindrance.
to set against in some relation, especially as to demonstrate a comparison or contrast.

to oppose advantages to disadvantages.
to use or take as being opposite or contrary.
to set (something) over against something else in place, or to set (two things) so as to face or be opposite to one another.

verb (used without object)

to be or act in opposition.

oppose British

/ əˈpəʊz /

verb

(tr) to fight against, counter, or resist strongly
(tr) to be hostile or antagonistic to; be against
(tr) to place or set in opposition; contrast or counterbalance
(tr) to place opposite or facing
(intr) to be or act in opposition

"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

Synonym Usage

Oppose, resist, withstand imply setting up a force against something. The difference between oppose and resist is somewhat similar to the one between offensive and defensive action. To oppose is mainly to fight against, in order to thwart, certain tendencies or procedures of which one does not approve: The lobbyists opposed the passage of the bill. Resist suggests that the subject is already threatened by the forces, or by the imminent possibility, against which they struggle: Our religion requires us to resist temptation. Whereas oppose always suggests an attitude of great disapproval, resist may imply an inner struggle in which the will is divided: She tried unsuccessfully to resist her craving for ice cream. Withstand generally implies successful resistance; it may refer to endurance that allows one to emerge unharmed ( to withstand a shock ), as well as to active resistance: The fort should be able to withstand an aerial attack.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of oppose

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Old French opposer, blend of Latin oppōnere “to set against” and Old French poser “to pose, place,” associated with the Latin past participle oppositus; see pose ¹

Explanation

To oppose something is to go against it or fight hard to stop it. A senator might oppose a bill, or a teen might oppose authority. Words starting with opp-, like opposite, opponent, and oppose, usually hint that there's a disagreement somewhere. You might oppose a decision if you don't agree with it or if it's the opposite of what you believe or know is right. Sometimes, though, to oppose just means to be on the other team.

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Vocabulary lists containing oppose

Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List

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PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade 11)

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Common Core Grades 7–8, List 1

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

oppose opposes opposed opposing

On Thursday, the holding company of construction magnate Francesco Gaetano Caltagirone, which holds 13.5 percent, said it would oppose a rival plan that has been put forward by MPS management.

From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026

The council’s decision — which was preceded by several fiery comments from members of the public who oppose the use of license plate readers — sends the contract back to the Police Commission for reconsideration.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026

Environmentalists and tourism operators oppose the project, warning it threatens Lamu’s fragile ecosystem and heritage status.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026

Officials in Kigali said negotiations with the five EU countries were ongoing, lawmakers Anna Strolenberg and Tineke Strik -- who oppose return hubs over human rights and other concerns -- told a virtual press conference.

From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026

Even so, most say they oppose the government’s taxing the assets a person leaves at death.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times

Beijing has said it firmly opposes import quotas.

From Barron's ● Oct. 5, 2026

DeCrane said his group opposes the way it has been "marketed" to firefighters, including in Spokane where morning briefings fire chiefs to their crews included suggestions that they visit a volunteer tent for treatment.

From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026

It also opposes the use of volunteers from the National Youth Service as airport staff.

From Barron's ● Aug. 31, 2026

China has repeatedly said it opposes “illegal and unreasonable unilateral sanctions” by Washington.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026

“Rose-Meta opposes the idea that kinky hair is inferior. Her philosophy is that there is beauty in everyone,” I read.

From "Betty Before X" by Ilyasah Shabazz and Renée Watson

Wiegman sees Le Tissier as a right-back as opposed to a centre-back - which is her position at United - and that meant she was handed a start against Greece.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026

“I don’t know how to describe it, but filmmaking became a religion, as opposed to something that I could do. It fused with me.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026

From the outset, Ms. Hazoutte and Ms. Siman Tov have been opposed to bulldozing houses in Nir Oz.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

Four of the party's five MPs opposed the motion.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

Second, the growing millions of African Americans, both freemen and those in bondage, opposed the idea.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis

More than $200 million already has been spent on supporting and opposing Proposition 40, data from the California secretary of state show.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

The company’s chief executive, Lisa Su, has previously spoken in favor of open-source models, and AMD signed a July letter led by Nvidia supporting open models and opposing premature regulation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026

"With no basis whatsoever, Uefa suggests that Mr Infantino sought to profit personally from the FFE proposal," Fifa said in a filing in the Southern District of Florida, opposing Uefa's motion for discovery.

From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026

Beijing has helped too, said Lankov, noting China's preference to keep the status quo of the Kim dynasty by opposing potential instability from defectors or their supporters.

From Barron's ● Sep. 28, 2026

In the team competition, all three members of our team would fence against the three members of the opposing team.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023