(~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
A politician’s ~s are other politicians who belong to a different party or who have different aims or policies.
...Mr Kennedy’s ~ in the leadership contest...
He described the detention without trial of political ~s as a cowardly act.
= adversary
N-COUNT: usu with poss
2.
In a sporting contest, your ~ is the person who is playing against you.
Norris twice knocked down his ~ in the early rounds of the fight...
N-COUNT: usu poss N
3.
The ~s of an idea or policy do not agree with it and do not want it to be carried out.
...~s of the spread of nuclear weapons...
? supporter
N-COUNT: usu N of n