opposed

[ uh-pohzd ]

adjective

1. hostile or resistant (usually followed by to ):

   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.

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of oppose ( def ).

Other Words From

• pre·op·posed adjective
• qua·si-op·posed adjective
• un·op·posed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of opposed¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

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.

Example Sentences

A senior Nippon Steel executive has flown to the United States to make the case for the deal, hoping to win approval before Donald Trump, who has publicly opposed the sale, takes office.

From New York Times

The California Democratic Party and Newsom opposed Proposition 36, a statewide ballot measure to increase penalties for repeat theft and drug crimes.

From Los Angeles Times

People opposed to trans athletes’ inclusion say its unfair, and potentially unsafe, for people born with male traits to compete against biological females.

From Los Angeles Times

But the fact that both are opposed to such a change highlights the tensions this is causing within government – could either, realistically, implement such a colossal change, weighted with moral considerations, which they personally opposed?

From BBC

One young IT worker, Anastasia - originally from Kazan in Russia - said she left in March 2022 because she could not stay in a country waging a war that she opposed.

From BBC

Related Words

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