opponent
noun
op·po·nent
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Definition of opponent
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: one that takes an opposite position (as in a debate, contest, or conflict)
She is a formidable opponent in the race for senator. opponents of the war
2
: a muscle that opposes or counteracts and limits the action of another
opponent
adjectiveDefinition of opponent (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: antagonistic, opposing
2
: situated in front
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Examples of opponent in a Sentence
Noun
She is a formidable opponent in the race for senator. The team's opponents have not lost a game this season. He knocked out his opponent in the third round.
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Because Colony’s only points of the game came on a fumble return, the game marked the second straight week that defensive coordinator Dana Curtis’ defense held an opponent scoreless. — Author: Josh Reed, Anchorage Daily News, "Wolverines shake off slow start to rack up another big football win," 25 Aug. 2019 The president has relentlessly sought to diminish the credibility of news organizations and cast them as politically motivated opponents. — Jeremy W. Peters, BostonGlobe.com, "Trump allies target journalists over coverage deemed hostile to White House," 25 Aug. 2019 His ability to cover the court is extraordinary and unrivaled, which allows him to extend rallies and make opponents aim for smaller targets. — Jon Wertheim, SI.com, "10 Big Questions Ahead of the 2019 U.S. Open," 24 Aug. 2019 The Yankees had taken the first meeting between championship contenders Friday, treating the Dodgers like the Dodgers have treated many opponents this season in a 10-2 drubbing. — Los Angeles Times, "Kenley Jansen notches save and Justin Turner homers in Dodgers’ win over Yankees," 24 Aug. 2019 The next closest team’s losses came to opponents with a winning percentage of .594, Finneran said. — Mike Nortrup, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, "Rec Sports Spotlight: Winfield Sting softball makes run at national tournament," 24 Aug. 2019 The team has outscored opponents 9-2 in that stretch, which started Aug. 2 and came after a three-game winless streak. — Courier Journal, The Courier-Journal, "Louisville City FC shuts out North Carolina FC at home to pick up its fourth straight win," 24 Aug. 2019 Crucially, the amendment’s passage had had a major consequence: mobilizing anti-feminists, including its arch-opponent Phyllis Schlafly, to defeat it. — Tara Law, Time, "The U.S. Constitution Doesn’t Guarantee Equal Rights for Women. Here’s Why," 23 Aug. 2019 There are a number of candidates, although Collins’ most formidable Democratic opponent may be the leader of the state’s House of Representatives, Sara Gideon. — Natasha Bach, Fortune, "These Are the 2020 Senate Elections to Watch," 22 Aug. 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
But ex-Invicta champ Felicia Spencer accomplished her goal of making her opponent look human. — Steven Marrocco, MMA Junkie, "UFC 240 results: Cris Cyborg cut, but outworks gritty Felicia Spencer," 28 July 2019 The Colts rank fourth in the NFL in opponent kickoff-return average, a product of Sanchez’s savvy as a kickoff specialist. — Stephen Holder, Indianapolis Star, "Colts' thumbs up, down: Jack Doyle, Jabaal Sheard starred this season," 1 Jan. 2018 The Lady Rams sank 85.7% (6-7) of their free throws and lost a Badgers-opponent season-high 26 turnovers to a season-high 14 steals by SHC. — Spring Hill College Athletics, AL.com, "Spring Hill women continue to roll with 73-46 win over Mobile," 24 Jan. 2018 Milwaukee has cut opponent three-point attempts from 27.4 per game in the first 18 contests to 23.3 in the past seven. — Matt Velazquez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Bucks are on a roll since getting back to basics in Berkeley," 10 Dec. 2017 His style is more along the lines of Floyd Mayweather Jr. — avoid contact, make the opponent look bad and win on points — which, to fans who thrive on continuous action and massive fistic exchanges, does not sit well. — Bob Velin, USA TODAY, "Lomachenko vs. Rigondeaux: Historic fight with great expectations," 8 Dec. 2017 Another highlight on the slate is a trip to Tuscon, Ariz., to play Pac-12 opponent Arizona on Dec. 3. — Tod Leonard, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Bahamas trip included in schedule for SDSU women's basketball," 9 Aug. 2017 Milpitas was scheduled to host Mission San Jose at SummitPointe Golf Course on Wednesday and to play league opponent Wilcox at Santa Clara Golf and Tennis Club on Thursday. — Julian Ramos, The Mercury News, "Milpitas: Trojans baseball tops Branham High," 23 Mar. 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'opponent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for opponent
opponent
noun
English Language Learners Definition of opponent
: a person, team, group, etc., that is competing against another in a contest
: a person, group, etc., that is against something (such as an action, law, or system) : someone or something that does not want something to exist, be done, etc.
See the full definition for opponent in the English Language Learners Dictionary
opponent
noun
op·po·nent
| \ ə-ˈpō-nənt
\
\
Kids Definition of opponent
: a person or thing that takes an opposite position in a contest, fight, or controversy
opponent
noun
op·po·nent
| \ ə-ˈpō-nənt
\
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Medical Definition of opponent
: a muscle that opposes or counteracts and limits the action of another
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