adversarial
adjective
ad·ver·sar·i·al
ˌad-vər-ˈser-ē-əl 
ˌad-və-,
-ˈse-rē-
: involving two people or two sides who oppose each other : of, relating to, or characteristic of an adversary or adversary procedures (see adversary entry 2 sense 2)
an adversarial relationship
an adversarial system of justice with prosecution and defense opposing each other
Examples of adversarial in a Sentence
an adversarial system of justice with prosecution and defense opposing each other
the relationship between the president and the congress should not be adversarial if anything is to get done
Recent Examples on the Web
The credential validates skills in securing AI models, defending against adversarial machine learning, and governing AI systems in compliance with evolving regulations.
—
Kevin J. Conlan, Hartford Courant, 9 Feb. 2026
But gradually, the relationship between Daisy and Hoke changes gears from adversarial to real affection, care and friendship.
—Oline Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 9 Feb. 2026
Quenneville likes the comparison to Perry, professing an affinity for a player who was, for years, an adversarial nuisance.
—Eric Stephens, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Others’ peaceful exercise gets disrupted, even adversarial.
—Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for adversarial
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Kevin J. Conlan, Hartford Courant, 9 Feb. 2026
But gradually, the relationship between Daisy and Hoke changes gears from adversarial to real affection, care and friendship.
—Oline Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 9 Feb. 2026
Quenneville likes the comparison to Perry, professing an affinity for a player who was, for years, an adversarial nuisance.
—Eric Stephens, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Others’ peaceful exercise gets disrupted, even adversarial.
—Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for adversarial
Cite this Entry
“Adversarial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adversarial. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
adversarial
adjective
ad·ver·sar·i·al
ˌad-vər-ˈser-ē-əl
: involving two people or two sides who oppose each other
Legal Definition
adversarial
adjective
ad·ver·sar·i·al
ˌad-vər-ˈser-ē-əl
: of, relating to, or characteristic of an adversary or adversary procedures : adversary
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