op ‧ po ‧ nent W3 /əˈpəʊnənt $ əˈpoʊ-/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: present participle of opponere ; ⇨ ↑ oppose ]
1 . someone who you try to defeat in a competition, game, fight, or argument:
Graf’s opponent in today’s final will be Sukova.
leading/main/chief opponent
During the primary elections, McCain was Bush’s leading opponent.
formidable/worthy opponent
In debate he was a formidable opponent.
He is admired even by his political opponents.
2 . someone who disagrees with a plan, idea, or system and wants to try to stop or change it OPP proponent
opponent of
Rodgers was not an opponent of the new airport.
bitter/vocal/outspoken opponent
an outspoken opponent of gun control
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COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 1)
■ adjectives
▪ somebody's main/chief opponent
Who was her main opponent for the presidential nomination?
▪ a leading opponent (=one of the main opponents)
In July the authorities arrested two leading opponents of the government.
▪ a strong/tough opponent (=one that is difficult to defeat)
Arizona is a strong opponent, but the Oregon team intend to beat them.
▪ a formidable opponent (=a very strong opponent)
In debate, he was a formidable opponent.
▪ a dangerous opponent (=one who might defeat you)
In tomorrow's match, he will take on his most dangerous opponent.
▪ a political opponent
the President's political opponents
▪ a worthy opponent (=one who deserves respect)
The Democratic Senator has shown himself to be a worthy opponent.
■ verbs
▪ face an opponent
The team were facing their final opponent of the season.
▪ defeat an opponent
She came within three points of defeating her opponent.
▪ outfox/outwit/outmanoeuvre an opponent (=gain an advantage over an opponent by being more intelligent or skilful than they are)
Football is all about outwitting your opponents.
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COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ adjectives
▪ the main/chief opponent
one of the new law's main opponents
▪ a leading opponent (=one of the main opponents, often influencing other people)
She was a leading opponent of gun control in the Senate.
▪ a strong opponent (=one who feels strongly that a particular thing is wrong and tries to stop it)
Brennan was a strong opponent of the death penalty.
▪ a fierce/bitter opponent (=a very strong opponent, who often expresses their opinions angrily)
She became well-known as a bitter opponent of slavery.
▪ a vigorous opponent (=one who opposes something with a lot of energy and determination)
a vigorous opponent of the use of nuclear weapons
▪ an outspoken/vocal opponent (=one who publicly expresses disagreement with something)
He was a vocal opponent of closer relations with the United States.
▪ a vociferous opponent (=one who publicly expresses very strong disagreement)
Many residents were vociferous opponents of the plan.
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THESAURUS
■ person
▪ enemy someone who does not like you because you have had a big disagreement with them in the past or someone who opposes you in business or politics:
If that’s how he treats his friends, I’d hate to be his enemy.
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In business, it’s best not to make too many enemies.
▪ adversary formal an enemy:
When he retired, he was replaced by his old adversary.
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He made the fatal mistake of underestimating his adversary.
▪ foe literary an enemy:
A guard called out ‘Who goes there – friend or foe?’
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his former foes
▪ arch enemy someone’s main enemy:
In the movie, Batman goes into battle with his arch enemy the Joker.
▪ opponent someone you are competing against, for example in a sports game, competition, or election:
You win the game if you are left with more cards than your opponent.
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He is admired even by his political opponents.
▪ nemesis written an enemy or opponent that is impossible to defeat – a rather formal use:
In the final, he met his old nemesis, Rafael Nadal.