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adversarial

/ˌædvərˈsɛriəl/
IPA guide

Anything that's adversarial is full of intense disagreement and conflict. If you had an adversarial relationship with your sister, it would be extremely difficult to share a bedroom with her.

Adversarial exchanges between countries don't bode well — they often lead to more intense conflicts, or possibly even war. Being adversarial means that each side is antagonistic, sharply opposed to the other, or locked into a deeply divided rivalry. In fact, this adjective is sometimes used simply to mean "hostile." Your adversary is your enemy or competitor, and both words stem from the Latin adversus, "turned against."

Definitions of adversarial
  1. adjective
    characterized by antagonism or antipathy
    hostile
    characterized by enmity or ill will
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