Thesaurus results for OPPOSE

oppose

verb

ə-ˈpōz

Definition of oppose

as in to resist

to refuse to give in to I will continue to oppose any attempts to infringe upon our civil liberties

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to fight

to strive to reduce or eliminate we must oppose ignorance and prejudice wherever and whenever they arise

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb oppose differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of oppose are combat, resist, and withstand. While all these words mean "to set oneself against someone or something," oppose can apply to any conflict, from mere objection to bitter hostility or warfare.

opposed the plan

When can combat be used instead of oppose?

Although the words combat and oppose have much in common, combat stresses the forceful or urgent countering of something.

combat disease

When is resist a more appropriate choice than oppose?

While in some cases nearly identical to oppose, resist implies an overt recognition of a hostile or threatening force and a positive effort to counteract or repel it.

resisting temptation

In what contexts can withstand take the place of oppose?

The words withstand and oppose can be used in similar contexts, but withstand suggests a more passive resistance.

trying to withstand peer pressure

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of oppose Among those opposed to the plan is Karolina Albarran, whose family has attended Hollywood Park Elementary for two generations. — Ted Scouten, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026 The $10 million was instead moved to political action committees that used the money to oppose a 2024 statewide ballot measure that would have legalized marijuana for adults in the state. — Jim Vertuno, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026 Any librarian who opposes this cut should feel free, like Patty, to speak out against it in their personal capacity. — Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 27 Aug. 2026 Bough’s appointment has raised eyebrows among critics of the stadium, including Missouri Workers Power, a coalition of progressive advocacy groups that opposes the city helping fund the project. — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for oppose

Recent Examples of Synonyms for oppose

Verb

Mark Carney drew international attention as Canada’s prime minister by warning that middle powers must resist economic coercion by more powerful countries.

— Rob Gillies, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2026
But once those opportunities have been funded, management should resist the temptation to pursue lower-quality projects simply to use available cash.

— Robert Daugherty, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of resist

Verb

Without a clear message from Warsh, investors began to doubt the Fed’s inflation-fighting resolve.

— Brian Cheung, NBC news, 28 Aug. 2026
Federal safety investigators urged automakers to give emergency responders better guides on how to fight lithium-ion battery fires.

— Todd C. Frankel, Washington Post, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of fight

Verb

And with oil prices showing no sign of returning to pre-Iran war levels this year, pressure is increasing on the Fed to combat that sticky inflation by raising interest rates at its next policy-setting meeting in September.

— Brian Cheung, NBC news, 28 Aug. 2026
As climate change exacerbates the heat, experts say the negative effects of sizzling classrooms are here to stay, especially in school districts that may not have the resources to combat hotter weather.

— Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of combat

Browse Nearby Words

opportunity

oppose

opposed

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Oppose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oppose. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of oppose

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

kith

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 28

Why do we say 'break a leg'?

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes