opponent

/əˈpoʊnənt/

/əˈpʌʊnɪnt/

Other forms: opponents

An opponent is your competition, whether it's a rival hockey team, or the other finalist in the chess tournament. Coaches tell you to never underestimate your opponent.

Someone who competes or fights against you is your opponent. If you're arguing that chocolate ice cream is better than vanilla, the vanilla ice cream fan is your opponent. An opponent can also be someone who opposes, like an opponent of gun control laws. The Latin word opponent means setting against, and it was first used in English to describe the person who would begin a certain type of philosophical debate.

Definitions of opponent

1. noun

   someone who offers opposition
   synonyms: adversary, antagonist, opposer, resister

   examples:

   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

   types:

   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

   besieger

   an enemy who lays siege to your position

   type of:

   individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul

   a human being
2. noun

   a contestant that you are matched against
   synonyms: opposite, opposition

   type of:

   contestant

   a person who participates in competitions
3. adjective

   characterized by active hostility
   “opponent (or opposing) armies”

   synonyms: opposing

   hostile

   characterized by enmity or ill will