ADVERSARIAL Synonyms: 105 Similar and Opposite Words

adversarial

adjective

ˌad-vər-ˈser-ē-əl

Definition of adversarial

as in hostile

marked by opposition or ill will the relationship between the president and the congress should not be adversarial if anything is to get done

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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 adversarial For the latter category, the most effective results would probably come from a platform getting close to an adversarial spacecraft via what’s known as rendezvous and proximity operations (RPOs). — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 29 Sep. 2026 The event aims to inject some levity into an historically adversarial relationship, reminding both sides of the spirit of the game. — Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026 Yet the episode also offered evidence of how natural resources provide a bulwark against an adversarial White House. — Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026 Historically, adversarial nation-states were largely considered the biggest cybersecurity threat to critical infrastructure. — Justine Calma, The Verge, 20 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for adversarial

Recent Examples of Synonyms for adversarial

Adjective

That night, Lee goes to Ginger’s house to tell her what happened — about his hostile showdown with the rupidoop, about Brawny Dude With the Butter Candies checking out Lee’s van in the Boontill parking lot.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
The trip to Leeds is another daunting assignment for United in what is usually a hostile atmosphere.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of hostile

Adjective

To that end, Musk’s average favorability rating — net negative 16 percentage points as of Wednesday, according to Decision Desk HQ — has additionally improved, although only slightly, since July 2025 when his favorability was at its nadir.

— Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 15 Oct. 2026
The beats create ample negative space for Holden to employ riskier flows, often deploying a double-time pace to burn through technically dense passages.

— Matthew Ritchie, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of negative

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ad verbum

adversarial

adversaries

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“Adversarial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adversarial. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of adversarial

adjective

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