opposing 1 of 2

adjective

as in opposite

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opposing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of oppose
1
as in resisting
to refuse to give in to I will continue to oppose any attempts to infringe upon our civil liberties

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fighting
to strive to reduce or eliminate we must oppose ignorance and prejudice wherever and whenever they arise

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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 opposing
Adjective
Its use during the exercise simulated an attack against an opposing naval force. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026 Splitter praises his movement on and off the ball, which seems to visibly confuse opposing defenses. — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 17 Oct. 2026 Regardless of any statistics, the defense has accomplished its end goal each and every week this season — and that’s allowing fewer points than the opposing team has scored every single time. — Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2026 Johnson is betting the trade-off — an aggressive, paint-punishing offense with the potential to give opposing defenses night sweats — will be worth the gamble. — Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 15 Oct. 2026 At its 2026 national summit, the book-ban-pushing, DEI-opposing, trans-fearing Moms of Liberty group unveiled a new AI tool designed to monitor school board agendas across more than 13,000 school districts nationwide. — Kenneal Patterson, Vanity Fair, 13 Oct. 2026 Ellison has taken an opposing view from his predecessors who confronted crumbling industry economics by cutting expenditures to boost their corporate bottom lines. — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026 This wasn't the first time an opposing player accused a Fever fan of inappropriate conduct despite the team and league finding no such evidence. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026 But others feel alienated, misrepresented and worn out by the opposing political forces, said Carolina Almeida de Paula, a political scientist from Rio de Janeiro State University. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
Verb
With opposing defenses likely to devote more attention to Anderson, Kohl emphasized the importance of getting other playmakers involved. — Alejandro Hernandez, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026 Trump’s post outlining a clear plan for construction complicates a federal court hearing scheduled for Monday in a lawsuit filed by the DC Preservation League and two golfers opposing the construction. — ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026 Not exactly the most famous names in Major League Baseball, sure, but an example of the Rays' depth and ability to create tough matchups for opposing pitchers up and down the lineup. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026 The two sides have been involved in opposing legal actions over contractual control, outside collaborations, releases, touring agreements, royalties and creative independence. — Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 18 Oct. 2026 Massie had aggravated Trump by pushing for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files and opposing the Iran war, and the president responded by successfully backing Gallrein in the party’s primary. — Michelle S. Price, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026 In the film, Rina is driven into exile for opposing the government. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026 Enough Promises paid the firm Seven Farms more than $397,000 on two dates last week for printing, postage and mail services either supporting Levy or opposing Brown. — Julie Carr Smyth, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026 The unlikely pair build an operation that threatens to blow the local bad guys out of the water, as opposing futures beckon. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 11 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for opposing
  1. opposite
  2. resisting
  3. fighting
  4. antagonistic
  5. combating
  6. contradictory
  7. countering
  8. irreconcilable
Adjective
  • In conference rooms and attempts at collective action alike, these two opposite ends of the supply chain often have different agendas and different ideas of success, and many speak different languages — literally and figuratively.
    — Bella Webb, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Researchers have used this tool, known as a feeling thermometer, for decades to measure how Americans feel about different groups, including people of color, gay and lesbian people and members of the opposite political party.
    — Jesse Rhodes, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of opposite
Verb
  • There never was a better moment for a movement aimed at resisting fascism, preventing war and eliminating poverty at home.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The officer also alleges Bowman continued resisting after the taser was used, before eventually complying.
    — Shelley Bortz, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of resisting
Verb
  • Rather than fighting strict local regulations head-on, companies like Waymo, Zoox, and Aurora are prioritizing states with explicit legislative preemption that prevents individual cities from banning the technology.
    — Andrew Hawkins, The Verge, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The procedure had already been approved, and everyone involved understood that my doctor had spent months fighting to secure authorization.
    — Scott Levenson, New York Daily News, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of fighting
Adjective
  • To MacArthur, solitary reading was antagonistic to the Army’s aims.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Related Stories Additionally, Flanagan was interested in recruiting Sloyan to play Carrie’s religious and antagonistic mother, Margaret White, unforgettably played by Piper Laurie in the film.
    — William Earl, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of antagonistic
Verb
  • Unions can also be powerful tools for combating racial pay discrimination; the new report shows tripling union membership would narrow the racial wage gap by more than a third.
    — Liz Shuler, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Selick says that being hyper-focused on any drug is a distraction in combating the opioid crisis.
    — Mary Jane Gibson, Rolling Stone, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of combating
Adjective
  • Students argue over texts, challenge interpretations, introduce contradictory evidence, and question one another’s reasoning.
    — Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Briscoe, for instance, has found that in neural-tube patterning there are two ways of reaching the same place in the landscape — a finding that reconciled previously contradictory observations.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of contradictory
Verb
  • Republicans' ace in the hole While Democratic candidates dominate direct donations, Republicans are countering with overwhelming outside spending.
    — Luke Fountain, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Tens of thousands of drones have been launched in the wars in Gaza, Iran, and Ukraine, and countering them is costly, imprecise, and dangerous, with defensive missiles leading to all manner of falling debris.
    — Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of countering
Adjective
  • The rift proved irreconcilable enough to prompt the 62-year-old author to declare a divorce from television on a 2024 podcast.
    — Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The works—separated by over fifty years and irreconcilable in medium—face one another across the gallery floor, forming an unconventional portrait of mother and child.
    — Carmen Rosenberg-Miller, Artforum, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of irreconcilable

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Cite this Entry

“Opposing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/opposing. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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