Synonyms for oppose
Most common
obstruct resist confront antagonize contend argue fight contradict
Synonyms by meaning
Verb
1. Obstruct — to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.; to…
obstruct, resist, confront, antagonize, antagonise UK, re-act, hinder, discourage, stand, prevent, withstand, check, counteract, repel, bar, block, buck, impede, inhibit, restrain, frustrate, thwart dated
2. Contend — to object to
contend, argue, dispute, take issue with, speak out, contest, take on, rival, vie, repugn dated
3. Defend
fight, go against, defend, combat, fight down, stand up to, fight back, face, front, kick
4. Contradict
contradict, deny, defy, gainsay formal, impugn, contravene, differ, controvert, refute, oppugn rare
Other
take a stand, demur, match, object, counter-attack, counter, counterbalance, contrast, pit
Definitions
- v. 1
To attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.; to contend against.
to oppose the king in battle
- v. 2
To object to.
Many religious leaders oppose cloning humans.
- v. 3
To present or set up in opposition; to pose.
They are opposed to any form of hierarchy.
- v. 4
To place in front of, or over against; to set opposite; to exhibit.
Related words
- Word family
- opposable opponent opposer opposite opposition
Forms
- Past participle
- opposed
e.g. opposed → obstructed, resisted, confronted, antagonized…
Example sentences
- resist Tom and Mary said they couldn't resist doing that.
- confront I think it's time for me to confront that problem.
- obstruct Pass on, please, and do not obstruct the way.
- antagonize Layla tried to antagonize Sami a little bit.
- argue Mennad and Baya started to argue a whole lot more.
- contend He had to contend against physical suffering.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| oppose | falling | |
| resist | rising | |
| confront | rising | |
| obstruct | falling | |
| antagonize | steady | |
| argue | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- bar1, pit1, vie1
- 4 letters
- face1, kick1, deny2, buck1, defy2
- 5 letters
- check1, front1, fight1, stand1, match1, block1, argue2, rival2, repel2, demur2
- 6 letters
- combat2, object2, defend2, resist2, differ2, hinder2, impede2, thwart1, refute2, impugn2, repugn, oppugn
- 7 letters
- prevent2, counter2, contest2, dispute2, contend2, inhibit3, gainsay2
- 8 letters
- contrast2, confront2, restrain2, obstruct2
- 9 letters
- withstand2, frustrate2
- 10 letters
- discourage3, contradict3, counteract3, antagonize4, contravene3, antagonise, controvert
- 14 letters
- counterbalance4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (deny2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- opposer
- Italiano
- opporre
- Español
- oponer
- Deutsch
- entgegensetzen
- Català
- oposar