oppositional

[ op-uh-zish-uh-nl ]

adjective

1. opposing, resisting, or combating; expressing a view or stance against something or someone:

   In experimental film one often finds an oppositional attitude toward mainstream culture, and a desire to forge an alternative.

2. expressing antagonism or hostility:

   Learning effective coping skills can reduce the negative influences of anger, oppositional behavior, and poor impulse control.

3. relating to or being in a contrastive, symmetrical, or complementary two-way relation:

   This remote-controlled wooden floor lamp is a simple, efficient, seemingly oppositional pairing of the natural and technological.

Other Words From

• un·op·po·si·tion·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of oppositional¹

opposition ( def ) + -al ¹( def )

Example Sentences

A case of massive oppositional mendacity that borders on the hilarious — except that many people believed and continue to believe him, all evidence to the contrary.

From Los Angeles Times

GOP positions on housing this election cycle have largely ranged from oppositional, in the case of Project 2025 proposals to scale back federal affordable housing programs and weaken tenant protections, to ambivalent, in the case of the Trump campaign's promises to reduce costs by defeating inflation and stopping "the unsustainable invasion of illegal aliens which is driving up housing costs."

From Salon

The threats are part of an oppositional strategy that has ramped up in recent weeks, as reported by NBC News.

From Salon

He also requested the court postpone a custody hearing scheduled for Sept. 10, granting him sufficient time to disprove her “false claims” about him — namely, that he is “unreasonably oppositional” and has neglected to show up for mandatory co–parenting therapy.

From Los Angeles Times

“It almost feels like the university has become somewhat of an oppositional force against its students.”

From Los Angeles Times