opposing

[ uh-poh-zing ]

adjective

1. fighting or acting against something or someone:

   The Taoist concept of health is harmony between the opposing forces of the natural world—between yin and yang.

   Humane treatment of prisoners ensured that many combatants in the opposing army preferred captivity over death in battle.

2. of or being a player, team, participant, etc., competing against another in a game or contest:

   If a game is rained out, reschedule a makeup date with the opposing captain.

   The single most important reason citizens voted that year was to ensure that the opposing candidate lost.

3. being, expressing, or supporting a hostile or conflicting opinion, proposal, etc.:

   The reporters responsible for those stories failed to balance their coverage with an opposing view.

   One faction wants to return us to the 1950s, while the opposing faction wants to adapt to the 21st century.

4. standing in the way of someone or something; being or providing a hindrance:

   Sometimes, despite all opposing circumstances, a painful step or two of progress will be achieved.

5. facing something else, or moving in the other direction:

   We waited as the opposing traffic cleared, and then it was our turn to go.

   The rails are to be mounted parallel to one another on opposing walls of the cargo area.

Other Words From

• op·pos·ing·ly adverb
• non·op·pos·ing adjective
• un·op·pos·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of opposing¹

First recorded in 1580–90, as a noun; oppos(e) ( def ) + -ing ²( def )

Example Sentences

It’s those high-impact, high-leverage questions that the entrepreneurs tend to find helpful engaging with me, as opposed to very detailed day-to-day things that most of the entrepreneurs I work with tend to be quite capable of doing.

From TechCrunch

It’s been a wild ride for Robinson since he went viral while opposing a gun show ban at that 2018 city council meeting.

From Ozy

Their proprietary bird—a three-way cross between a Transylvanian Naked Neck, a heritage Delaware, and an unnamed breed developed by Evans' grandfather—matures in 60 to 65 days, as opposed to the usual 40 or so.

From Popular-Science

He ran for president in the 2016 GOP primary, with a campaign focused on resolving partisan divisions and opposing the rancor that now dominates political life.

From Ozy

The Ravens got an important win against a tough Colts team, but we’re afraid that opposing defenses have gotten better at containing Lamar Jackson.

From FiveThirtyEight

Those opposing same-sex marriage are on their heels, and increasingly unwilling or unable to make a stand against it.

From The Daily Beast

It was Orlando vs. Justin in an Ibiza melee with two highly unlikely opposing parties.

From The Daily Beast

They took an anti-establishment stance to a new level, openly opposing the government.

From The Daily Beast

The king set about punishing Marshal, opposing his attempts to establish his family in their lands in Ireland and Wales.

From The Daily Beast

Suddenly, a  tall, curly haired white man appeared and thrust himself in the middle of the opposing forces.

From The Daily Beast

His object was to reach Allahabad that night—not to hew his way through opposing hordes and risk being cut down in the process.

From Project Gutenberg

With that opposing force behind us, we bore away across the shrouded benches, straight for the mouth of Sage Creek.

From Project Gutenberg

The proposed line was in direct competition with the Great Northern, and they sought my aid in opposing it.

From Project Gutenberg

This from opposing counsel was a compliment indeed, and I was much complimented upon it.

From Project Gutenberg

Postmaster Pratt appeared certain of better than a hundred, and so did the opposing party.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• antagonistic
• conflicting