opponent
[ uh-poh-nuhnt ]
/ əˈpoʊ nənt /
noun
a person who is on an opposing side in a game, contest, controversy, or the like; adversary.
adjective
being opposite, as in position.
opposing; adverse; antagonistic.
Anatomy.
bringing parts together or into opposition, as a muscle.
Origin of opponent
SYNONYMS FOR opponent
1
antagonist.
Opponent,
competitor,
rival refer to persons engaged in a contest.
Opponent is the most impersonal, meaning merely one who opposes; perhaps one who continually blocks and frustrates or one who happens to be on the opposite side in a temporary contest:
an opponent in a debate.
Competitor emphasizes the action in striving against another, or others, for a definite, common goal:
competitors in business.
Rival has both personal and emotional connotations; it emphasizes the idea that (usually) two persons are struggling to attain the same object:
rivals for an office.
Words nearby opponent
Example sentences from the Web for opponent
British Dictionary definitions for opponent
opponent
/ (əˈpəʊnənt) /
noun
a person who opposes another in a contest, battle, etc
anatomy
an opponent muscle
adjective
opposite, as in position
anatomy
(of a muscle) bringing two parts into opposition
opposing; contrary
Derived forms of opponent
opponency, nounWord Origin for opponent
C16: from Latin
oppōnere to oppose, from
ob- against +
pōnere to place