Word: Opponent

Pronunciation

/əˈpəʊnənt/

Definitions

• Noun: A person or thing that competes with or opposes another; an adversary or rival. For example: “The team faced a tough opponent in the championship match.”

Example sentences:

• Noun: “She was the top-ranked tennis player, but her opponent put up a fierce fight.”
• “He debated his political opponent on national television last night.”
• “Fear is not an opponent to be defeated; it’s a signal to be embraced and understood.” (Here, ‘opponent’ metaphorically refers to fear.)

Phrases

• “Face off against an opponent” means to confront or compete directly with someone or something.
• “Political opponents” refers to individuals or groups with differing political views who are competing for the same position or advocating opposite policies.
• “Team opponent” refers to another team one is competing against in sports or games.

Synonyms

• Adversary
• Rival
• Competitor
• Challenger
• Antagonist
• Foe
• Opposing side
• Contender