opposing

American  

[uh-poh-zing] / əˈpoʊ zɪŋ /

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.

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Other Word Forms

• nonopposing adjective
• opposingly adverb
• unopposing adjective

Etymology

Origin of opposing

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

Example Sentences

A group of officials from the prosecutor’s office drafted a letter opposing Khan’s continuing to serve as chief prosecutor that was read at Wednesday’s meeting.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

In 2023 it brokered a deal between bitter rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran, which lave long stood on opposing sides in proxy wars in the Middle East.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

Secular and Christian popular culture swim in opposing halves of divided entertainment waters, despite broadcast TV’s lengthy history of featuring Christian-leaning shows, including “Touched by an Angel,” “Joan of Arcadia” and, however regrettably, “7th Heaven.”

From Salon • Mar. 29, 2026

The opposing law firm didn’t catch the flaw and cited the same fake cases in its filings, including in a drafted court order that got signed by a judge.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

Mustard gas, which had been used in World War I by both opposing fighting forces, was so horrible that it had been banned from warfare in the 1925 Geneva Gas Protocol.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein

Related Words

• antagonistic
• conflicting