1
as in foes
one that takes a position opposite another in a competition or conflict
in martial arts, before the match begins, always bow to your opponent
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in enemies
one that is hostile toward another
the senator has many political opponents who would love to ruin his career
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of opponents
Other players have covered their mouths while speaking to opponents during the World Cup, but a red card is only issued if the conversation occurs during a confrontation or heated exchange.
—
Eduard Cauich,
Los Angeles Times,
1 July 2026
The side of the bracket where France sits includes some tough potential opponents.
—
Doha Madani,
NBC news,
1 July 2026
France, the World Cup runner-up four years ago and a tournament favorite this time, has outscored opponents 13-2, with Michael Olise assisting on five goals.
—
CBS News,
1 July 2026
Rutinel's win continues a national trend of left-leaning Democrats candidates beating moderate opponents in primaries.
—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
30 June 2026
The top opponents in each of the three primary races held similar positions.
—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
30 June 2026
In Monday’s annual Homeowners Association board election, president Karl de Borbon is running for a ninth consecutive term against opponents who accuse him of rigging last year’s election and a June 8 vote for a swimming pool deck refurbishment project and a bylaw amendment.
—
Linda Robertson,
Miami Herald,
22 June 2026
But the move enabled Florida to lock in what will be one of the best top-six forward groups in the league, slotting Brady Tkachuck into the left wing spot on the second line alongside center Sam Bennett and right wing Matthew Tkachuk that will cause opponents major headaches.
—
Eduardo A. Encina,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 June 2026
Carmakers had many challenges Britain’s carmakers were early and outspoken opponents of Brexit, arguing that increased red tape surrounding shipments of parts and finished vehicles would damage an industry built on a network of interlinked factories in multiple European countries.
—
Danica Kirka,
Fortune,
22 June 2026
Eduard Cauich,
Los Angeles Times,
1 July 2026
The side of the bracket where France sits includes some tough potential opponents.
—
Doha Madani,
NBC news,
1 July 2026
France, the World Cup runner-up four years ago and a tournament favorite this time, has outscored opponents 13-2, with Michael Olise assisting on five goals.
—
CBS News,
1 July 2026
Rutinel's win continues a national trend of left-leaning Democrats candidates beating moderate opponents in primaries.
—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
30 June 2026
The top opponents in each of the three primary races held similar positions.
—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
30 June 2026
In Monday’s annual Homeowners Association board election, president Karl de Borbon is running for a ninth consecutive term against opponents who accuse him of rigging last year’s election and a June 8 vote for a swimming pool deck refurbishment project and a bylaw amendment.
—
Linda Robertson,
Miami Herald,
22 June 2026
But the move enabled Florida to lock in what will be one of the best top-six forward groups in the league, slotting Brady Tkachuck into the left wing spot on the second line alongside center Sam Bennett and right wing Matthew Tkachuk that will cause opponents major headaches.
—
Eduardo A. Encina,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 June 2026
Carmakers had many challenges Britain’s carmakers were early and outspoken opponents of Brexit, arguing that increased red tape surrounding shipments of parts and finished vehicles would damage an industry built on a network of interlinked factories in multiple European countries.
—
Danica Kirka,
Fortune,
22 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for opponents
Noun
-
Unrestricted free agents Marcus Smart, 32, and Luke Kennard, 30, agreed to deals with Western Conference foes.
-
The 2018 runners-up and 2022 third-place finishers have three wins and a draw against African World Cup foes since 2014, including their third-place victory over Morocco.
Noun
-
Later in the Hebrew Bible Lot is mentioned primarily in reference to his descendants, the Moabites and Ammonites, who are described as periodic enemies of the Israelites.
-
So why is cryptocurrency now getting a pass to work with American enemies?
Noun
-
The club is one year into PSG Labs, 15 years into the broader brand project, and still operating in a country where broadcast television revenue—the financial backbone of English and Spanish football—is dramatically lower than its rivals.
-
Targeting political rivals The Justice Department’s role in the IRS lawsuit is one example of how Trump has decreed that executive branch employees should act as agents of his will.
Noun
-
There are also fears that AI bug hunting tools can be used by adversaries to find ways to exploit vulnerabilities, making patching more important than ever.
-
Could be adversaries politically; don’t have to like everybody.
Noun
-
Comcast faces competitors beyond traditional telecommunications firms, including AT&T and T-Mobile.
-
Cisco has built and is refining an AI tool for investor relations that analyzes its financial history alongside competitors’ earnings calls and can anticipate likely questions from specific analysts.
Cite this Entry
“Opponents.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opponents. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
