opposed

American  

[uh-pohzd] / əˈpoʊzd /

adjective

1. hostile or resistant (usually followed byto ).

   At a town hall meeting about the proposed desalination plant, most speakers were opposed, citing high costs and the effect on marine life.

   Some educators are opposed to bringing new media tools into classes, viewing them as a potential distraction for students.

2. having contrary effects; operating at cross-purposes.

   How do we interpret these seemingly opposed trends—away from organized religion and toward the formation of strong spiritual beliefs?

3. set against or contrasted with something else or with each other; viewed as contrary or competing.

   The opposed images on the book’s title page represent the two very different understandings of “home” featured in the narrative.

4. situated, existing, or growing in opposite directions.

   There are two diametrically opposed arrows on the signpost, and we have no idea which one to follow.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of oppose.

idioms

1. as opposed to, in contrast to; rather than.

   The new boss is intuitive as opposed to analytical, and conflict-shy as opposed to aggressive.

Other Word Forms

• preopposed adjective
• quasi-opposed adjective
• unopposed adjective

Etymology

Origin of opposed

First recorded in 1450–1500; oppose ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Explanation

When things are opposed, they're against each other. Two teams playing against each other are opposed; so are two sides in a war. If you're opposed, you're usually up against an opponent or opposing side. Politicians often talk about being opposed to one law and in favor of another. If someone is against higher taxes, they're opposed to higher taxes. Someone on the other side is opposed to lower taxes. But you could also simply be opposed to something like breakfast before 10 am.

Example Sentences

An email to the branch, obtained through a freedom of information request, indicated challenges "in relation to the use of our funding for capital costs" as opposed to the schemes they had been earmarked for.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

“This is a leverage seeking exercise, pure and simple,” said Behnam Ben Taleblu, at The Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington think tank which has opposed Iran’s regime.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

That would make it essential for businesses to invest in developing employee skills to work with the evolving tech, as opposed to the tech replacing workers all-together.

From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026

Low-impact notification fees will be $156 per location, as opposed to the standard notification fee of $250 per location.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026

“LORE uses the term self-sufficient museum. They have several of these. This is an older version of a virtual assistant. She uses a projection processor, as opposed to an integrated processor.”

From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas

Related Words

• anti
• antithetical
• averse
• disputed
• hostile
• inimical
• opposing