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 Word Forms

• 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

It was particularly thorny for the SNP whose former leader Nicola Sturgeon championed the expansion of trans rights, cheered on by some in her party and opposed loudly by others.

From BBC

Nearly 60% of those polled said they opposed new tariffs on U.S. imports.

From Salon

Legislation, Price believes, is the answer to bringing back the dark — as opposed to carving the Earth up into little pieces, a few fragments of which might achieve protected status.

From Salon

That has now been kicked into the long grass because a majority of the engine manufacturers were opposed, as they were always going to be.

From BBC

The involvement of Huawei in UK networks was also opposed by a number of MPs.

From BBC

Related Words

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