1DSAGAINST somebody IN A GAMEsomeone who you try to defeat in a competition, game, fight, or argument 〔竞争、比赛、打斗、争执等的〕对手,敌手
Graf’s opponent in today’s final will be Sukova.
格拉芙今天的决赛对手将是苏科娃。
leading/main/chief opponent
During the primary elections, McCain was Bush’s leading opponent.
初选时,麦凯恩是布什的主要对手。
formidable/worthy opponent
In debate he was a formidable opponent.
在辩论时他是一位难以应付的对手。
He is admired even by his political opponents.
他甚至受到政敌的钦佩。
2AGAINST/OPPOSEsomeone who disagrees with a plan, idea, or system and wants to try to stop or change it 反对者OPP proponent
opponent of
Rodgers was not an opponent of the new airport.
罗杰斯并不反对建设新机场。
bitter/vocal/outspoken opponent
an outspoken opponent of gun control
直言不讳反对枪支管制的人
nCOLLOCATIONS – Meaning 1: someone who you try to defeat in a competition, game, fight, or argument
adjectives
somebody's main/chief opponent
Who was her main opponent for the presidential nomination?
a leading opponent (=one of the main opponents)
In July the authorities arrested two leading opponents of the government.
a strong/tough opponent (=one that is difficult to defeat)
Arizona is a strong opponent, but the Oregon team intend to beat them.
a formidable opponent (=a very strong opponent)
In debate, he was a formidable opponent.
a dangerous opponent (=one who might defeat you)
In tomorrow's match, he will take on his most dangerous opponent.
a political opponent
the president's political opponents
a worthy opponent (=one who deserves respect)
The Democratic Senator has shown himself to be a worthy opponent.
verbs
face an opponent
The team were facing their final opponent of the season.
defeat an opponent
She came within three points of defeating her opponent.
outfox/outwit/outmanoeuvre an opponent (=gain an advantage over an opponent by being more intelligent or skilful than they are)
Football is all about outwitting your opponents.
nCOLLOCATIONS – Meaning 2: someone who disagrees with a plan, idea, or system and wants to try to stop or change it
adjectives
the main/chief opponent
one of the new law's main opponents
a leading opponent (=one of the main opponents, often influencing other people)
She was a leading opponent of gun control in the Senate.
a strong opponent (=one who feels strongly that a particular thing is wrong and tries to stop it)
Brennan was a strong opponent of the death penalty.
a fierce/bitter opponent (=a very strong opponent, who often expresses their opinions angrily)
She became well-known as a bitter opponent of slavery.
a vigorous opponent (=one who opposes something with a lot of energy and determination)
a vigorous opponent of the use of nuclear weapons
an outspoken/vocal opponent (=one who publicly expresses disagreement with something)
He was a vocal opponent of closer relations with the United States.
a vociferous opponent (=one who publicly expresses very strong disagreement)
Many residents were vociferous opponents of the plan.
Examples from the Corpus
opponent• Like their rivals, they expect no gifts, no walkovers against an opponent who has lost heart and given up.• In some countries, any opponent of the government is likely to lose their job.• Brownlee regards Reaney as his most difficult opponent.• Manchester United will prove a formidableopponent this season.• He is also expected to have completetrust in his opponent in spite of all indications to the contrary.• His opponent will be lucky to get seventy thousand Republicans interested enough to cast a primaryvote.• His opponentsdismiss his rise in the polls as a merematter of money.• Carson is Seymour's mainopponent for the RepublicanSenatenomination.• My opponent was much older than I was.• My opponent was the same age and height as myself.• One notableopponent of the proposal was the mayor.• Karpov defeated his 24-year-old opponent in 57 moves.• There has been no discussion of Denver, the Raiders' opponent on Oct. 19.• Highbrowpublishers and small bookshops are the most resoluteopponents.
bitter/vocal/outspoken opponent• Switchboard became a vocal opponent of the tactics, providing material for parliamentary and mediaattacks upon the practices.• Fife Symington has been a vocal opponent of a Proposition 187 movement in Arizona.• Davis has earned a reputation as an outspoken opponent of any kind of nuclearwastedumping at sea.• Mrs Chavez is an outspoken opponent of both ideas.• Many are vocal opponents of liberalised international markets in general.• The law was sent for approval to GovernorGeorge Deukmejian, a formeroutspoken opponent of gun control.• Even his most bitter opponents are keeping their heads down.• Has Visa International -- one of the most vocal opponents of so-calledambush marketing -- ended up ambushing itself?
Originopponent
(1500-1600)Latin present participle of opponere; → OPPOSE