opponent
/əˈpəʊ.nənt/ noun B2- One who opposes another; one who works or takes a position against someone or something; one who attempts to stop the progress of someone or something. · The person who ran against her in the last election proved to be a formidable opponent.· During the crackdown, many opponents of the regime were arrested.
- One who opposes another physically (in a fight, sport, game, or competition).
- One who opposes another in words (in a dispute, argument or controversy).
- One who is opposed or objects (to a policy, course of action or set of ideas). · She was a dedicated opponent of the death penalty.
- The participant who opens an academic debate by putting forward objections to a theological or philosophical thesis.
Plural opponents
From the library
Never have I risen to such a height, and never have I been so hard pressed by an opponent.
As it is, by an indiscreet eagerness, which was taken advantage of with extraordinary quickness and energy by our opponent, we have betrayed ourselves and lost our man.”
Had I been with Sir Henry and you it is confident that my point of view would have been the same as yours, and my presence would have warned our very formidable opponents to be on their guard.
“He is a colleague of the count, and one of the most active opponents to the idea of providing the Chamber of Peers with a uniform.
Learn opponent in real texts
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