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OPPONENT
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I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Someone who offers opposition
Synonyms:
adversary; antagonist; opponent; opposer; resister
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("opponent" is a kind of...):
individual; mortal; person; somebody; someone; soul (a human being)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "opponent"):
dueler; duelist; dueller; duellist (a person who fights duels)
enemy; foe; foeman; opposition (an armed adversary (especially a member of an opposing military force))
Luddite (any opponent of technological progress)
withstander (an opponent who resists with force or resolution)
Instance hyponyms:
Antichrist ((Christianity) the adversary of Christ (or Christianity) mentioned in the New Testament; the Antichrist will rule the world until overthrown by the Second Coming of Christ)
Derivation:
opponent (characterized by active hostility)
oppose (be against; express opposition to)
Sense 2
Meaning:
A contestant that you are matched against
Synonyms:
opponent; opposite; opposition
Classified under:
Nouns denoting people
Hypernyms ("opponent" is a kind of...):
contestant (a person who participates in competitions)
Derivation:
oppose (set into opposition or rivalry)
II. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Characterized by active hostility
Example:
opponent (or opposing) armies
Synonyms:
opponent; opposing
Classified under:
Similar:
hostile (characterized by enmity or ill will)
Derivation:
opponent (someone who offers opposition)
oppose (be against; express opposition to)
oppose (be resistant to)
oppose (set into opposition or rivalry)
oppose (fight against or resist strongly)
oppose (act against or in opposition to)
Context examples:
Steerforth evaded the question for a little while; looking in scorn and anger on his opponent, and remaining silent.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
The high object of our mission, the consciousness that it was unselfish and chivalrous, the villainous character of our opponent, all added to the sporting interest of the adventure.
(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Then again a few seconds of silent tension, when Wilson led viciously at the head, but Harrison took it on his forearm, smiling and nodding at his opponent.
(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
As his opponent walked towards him he suddenly bounded forward and sent in a whistling cut which would have severed the other in twain had he not sprung lightly back from it.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
It was a valiant move but a foolish one, for the great bandy-legged creatures were slow of foot, while their opponents were as active as cats.
(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Sir George Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the coronet, and his opponent at the other.
(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Our opponent opened the door.
(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Kidnappers and inveiglers were planted in all the avenues of entrance to the Commons, with instructions to do their utmost to cut off all persons in mourning, and all gentlemen with anything bashful in their appearance, and entice them to the offices in which their respective employers were interested; which instructions were so well observed, that I myself, before I was known by sight, was twice hustled into the premises of our principal opponent.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
As for me, I am an inveterate opponent of socialism just as I am an inveterate opponent of your own mongrel democracy that is nothing else than pseudo- socialism masquerading under a garb of words that will not stand the test of the dictionary.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
We know who it is and so do our opponents, but the referees and stakeholder would take no notice of that.
(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
