noun
opponent
uh-POH-nuhnt/əˈpəʊnənt/
A person or side acting against another.
Each player faces an opponent across the chessboard before the match.
Etymology
The pieces express “setting against”: an opponent was originally someone who maintained a contrary argument in a debate. The term broadened to anyone acting as an adversary, including a competitor.
In context
you can easily raise a million dollars for for an opponent to go against and take out one of these republicans here
More examples
- Our next opponent has won every game this season.
- She is a vocal opponent of the proposed tax.
- The candidates challenge their opponents during the debate.
Forms
opponent · opponents
oppose verb — To act against or disagree with something.
Similar words
- competitor
- Emphasizes competing for the same prize, customers, or advantage.
- adversary
- Suggests a more serious or sustained conflict than opponent.