Showing results for "opposed"

• past tense form of oppose.
• past participle of oppose.

opposed

American  

[uh-pohzd] / əˈpoʊzd /

adjective

1. hostile or resistant (usually followed byto ).

   At a town hall meeting about the proposed desalination plant, most speakers were opposed, citing high costs and the effect on marine life.

   Some educators are opposed to bringing new media tools into classes, viewing them as a potential distraction for students.

2. having contrary effects; operating at cross-purposes.

   How do we interpret these seemingly opposed trends—away from organized religion and toward the formation of strong spiritual beliefs?

3. set against or contrasted with something else or with each other; viewed as contrary or competing.

   The opposed images on the book’s title page represent the two very different understandings of “home” featured in the narrative.

4. situated, existing, or growing in opposite directions.

   There are two diametrically opposed arrows on the signpost, and we have no idea which one to follow.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of oppose.

idioms

1. as opposed to, in contrast to; rather than.

   The new boss is intuitive as opposed to analytical, and conflict-shy as opposed to aggressive.

Other Word Forms

• preopposed
  adjective
• quasi-opposed
  adjective
• unopposed
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of opposed

First recorded in 1450–1500; oppose ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

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Explanation

When things are opposed, they're against each other. Two teams playing against each other are opposed; so are two sides in a war. If you're opposed, you're usually up against an opponent or opposing side. Politicians often talk about being opposed to one law and in favor of another. If someone is against higher taxes, they're opposed to higher taxes. Someone on the other side is opposed to lower taxes. But you could also simply be opposed to something like breakfast before 10 am.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

opposed

In an interview, Gina Hinojosa emphasized that she wasn’t ideologically opposed to data centers, but that community approval must come first.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026

Several hundred activists opposed to the construction of a Microsoft data centre in Amsterdam occupied the site on Friday, responding to a call for a two-day protest across Europe.

From Barron's ● Nov. 6, 2026

Tech industry groups opposed Lowentha’s bill, arguing it would hamper users’ ability to connect with family and friends.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2026

In August, Typhoon Chan-Hom baffled storm watchers in Japan by crossing the country from east to west, as opposed to the usual south-to-north trajectory.

From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026

Or, rather, if you were only depressed while doing your rounds and pretending to be interested in practicing, as opposed to studying, medicine?

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

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Related Words

• anti
• antithetical
• averse
• disputed
• hostile
• inimical
• opposing

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