op·po·nent
ə-ˈpō-nənt 
1
: one that takes an opposite position (as in a debate, contest, or conflict)
She is a formidable opponent in the race for senator.
opponents of the war
2
: a muscle that opposes or counteracts and limits the action of another
1
2
: situated in front
Synonyms
Examples of opponent in a Sentence
Noun
She is a formidable opponent in the race for senator.
The team's opponents have not lost a game this season.
He knocked out his opponent in the third round.
Recent Examples on the Web
Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024
District 2 was the only race with multiple candidates and Nielsen has a large lead over his opponents with more than 55% of the vote.
—Michael Slaten, Orange County Register, 11 Nov. 2024
Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 27 Oct. 2024
For Washington State, the increase in opponent quality is less pronounced, shifting from an average ranking of 71.75 without Oregon State to 70.8 when including them.
—Giovanni Malloy, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for opponent 
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.
Noun
New York is second in pass defense, 10th in scoring defense and fourth in opponents’ average yards per play.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024
District 2 was the only race with multiple candidates and Nielsen has a large lead over his opponents with more than 55% of the vote.
—Michael Slaten, Orange County Register, 11 Nov. 2024
Adjective
The Cowboys were fifth in opponent yards per game last season and have fallen to 24th this season.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 27 Oct. 2024
For Washington State, the increase in opponent quality is less pronounced, shifting from an average ranking of 71.75 without Oregon State to 70.8 when including them.
—Giovanni Malloy, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for opponent
Dictionary Entries Near opponent
Cite this Entry
“Opponent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opponent. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
opponent
noun
op·po·nent
ə-ˈpō-nənt
: a muscle that opposes or counteracts and limits the action of another
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share