- opponent
- I(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)n. See opposition.II(Roget's IV) n.1. [A rival]Syn. competitor, claimant, emulator, striver, contender, challenger, candidate, equal, entrant, the opposition, oppositionist, aspirant, bidder; see also contestant .Ant. supporter*, defender, abettor.2. [An opposing contestant]Syn. antagonist, disputant, contestant, filibusterer, litigant, learned colleague*; see also player 1 .Ant. associate*, partner, colleague.3. [An enemy]Syn. enemy, foe, adversary, antagonist, combatant, assailant; see also enemy 1 , 2 .Syn.- opponent , an unemotional word, refers to anyone who is opposed to one, as in a fight, game, contest, or debate; antagonist implies more active opposition, esp. in a struggle for control or power; adversary usually suggests actual hostility in the conflict; enemy may imply actual hatred in the opponent and a deSire to injure, or it may simply refer to any member of the opposing group, nation, etc. in a conflict, whether or not there is personal animosity or hostility involved; foe , now a somewhat literary synonym for enemy , connotes more active hostilityIII(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus) n.adversary, enemy, rival, competitor, antagonist, foe, contender, nemesis, *sparring partner. see enemyIV(Roget's Thesaurus II) noun 1. One that opposes another in a battle, contest, controversy, or debate: adversary, antagonist, opposer, opposition, oppositionist, resister. See RESIST, SUPPORT. 2. One that competes: competition, competitor, contender, contestant, corrival, rival. See CONFLICT.
English dictionary for students. 2013.