oppositive
Americanadjective
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contrasting or contrary; tending to oppose, especially with regard to attitude or behavior.
The prime minister took an oppositive stand against the policies proposed by her rivals.
Irritability and oppositive behaviors, such as defiance or refusal to cooperate, are a symptom of this psychological condition.
-
involving or consisting of opposites.
Newton's third law requires that all forces exist in oppositive pairs.
It must have been by the law of oppositive attraction that this man was her chosen partner.
Etymology
Origin of oppositive
First recorded in 1630–40; from Latin opposit(us) “set against” (past participle of oppōnere “to set against”; oppose ( def. ) ) + -ive ( def. )
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.
Jarred Kelenic hit an oppositive field solo homer for the second straight game to lead off the inning.
From Seattle Times
This prefix de- is negative and oppositive in destroy, desuetude, deform, or intensive in declare, desolate, desiccate.
From Project Gutenberg
Neither was the duty so unpleasant to Thomas's oppositive nature, as it would have been to a man of easier temperament.
From Project Gutenberg
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.