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

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

And, as the eighth man in the order, he also served up a reminder that there really will be no rest for weary opposing pitchers this season.

From Los Angeles Times

But without friction, challenge or genuine engagement with opposing views, little is resolved.

From The Wall Street Journal

When older adults activated one muscle to stabilize themselves, the opposing muscle often tightened at the same time.

From Science Daily

Without sense, it could be a myopic rumination on climate change mixed with a treacly buddy comedy, where two opposing temperaments clash into a discordant, aggravating mess.

From Salon

Related Words

• antagonistic
• conflicting