Oppose

• POS: Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: op=pose

CIDE DICTIONARY

Oppose, v. t. [F. opposer. See Ob-, Pose, and cf.2d Appose, Puzzle, n. Cf.L. opponere, oppositum.].

•  To place in front of, or over against; to set opposite; to exhibit.  [1913 Webster]

  "Her grace sat down . . .
  In a rich chair of state; opposing freely
  The beauty of her person to the people."  [1913 Webster]
•  To put in opposition, with a view to counterbalance or countervail; to set against; to offer antagonistically.  [1913 Webster]

  "I may . . . oppose my single opinion to his."  [1913 Webster]
•  To resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.; to contend against; to confront; to resist; to withstand; as, to oppose the king in battle; to oppose a bill in Congress.  [1913 Webster]
•  To compete with; to strive against; as, to oppose a rival for a prize.  [1913 Webster]

  "I am . . . too weak
  To oppose your cunning."  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- To combat; withstand; contradict; deny; gainsay; oppugn; contravene; check; obstruct.

Oppose, v. i. 

•  To be set opposite.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]
•  To act adversely or in opposition; -- with against or to; as, a servant opposed against the act.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]
•  To make objection or opposition in controversy.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Oppose, v.tr. (often absol.)
1 set oneself against; resist, argue against.
2 be hostile to.
3 take part in a game, sport, etc., against (another competitor or team).
4 (foll. by to) place in opposition or contrast.

Idiom

as opposed to in contrast with.

Derivative

opposer n.

Etymology

ME f. OF opposer f. L opponere: see OPPONENT

DEVIL DICTIONARY

Oppose

v. To assist with obstructions and objections.

How lonely he who thinks to vex
With bandinage the Solemn Sex!
Of levity, Mere Man, beware;
None but the Grave deserve the Unfair.
Percy P. Orminder

THESAURUS

Oppose

abjure, agree to differ, agree to disagree, analogize, antagonize, array, arrest, assert the contrary, assimilate, attack, balance, ban, bar, be antipathetic, be at cross-purposes, be at variance, be in dissent, be inimical, be opposed to, beat against, beg to differ, belie, blackball, block, bottle up, bring into analogy, bring into comparison, buck, bump heads, categorically reject, challenge, check, clash, collide, combat, compare, compare and contrast, compare with, complain, complain loudly, conflict, conflict with, confront, confute, contend, contend against, contend with, contest, contradict, contrapose, contraposit, contrast, contrast with, contravene, controvert, counter, counteract, counterattack, counterbalance, countercheck, counterpoise, counterpose, countervail, counterwork, cross, curb, dam up, damp, dampen, defy, delay, deny, detain, differ, disaffirm, disagree, disagree with, disallow, disapprove, disapprove of, disavow, disclaim, discord with, disfavor, disown, disprove, dispute, dissent, dissent from, divide on, draw a comparison, draw a parallel, drop out, duel, exclude, face, face down, face out, face up to, fight, foil, forswear, front, frown at, frown down, frown upon, frustrate, gainsay, go against, go counter to, grapple with, grimace at, hinder, hold back, hold in check, hold up, impede, impugn, inhibit, intercept, interfere, interfere with, intermeddle, interrupt, intervene, join issue upon, join the opposition, juxtapose in opposition, keep back, keep in check, kick against, lie opposite, liken, liken to, lock horns, look askance at, look black upon, make a stand, match, measure against, meddle, meet head-on, metaphorize, militate against, not abide, not accept, not admit, not agree, not approve, not go for, not hear of, not hold with, nullify, object, object to, obstruct, obviate, offer resistance, offset, oppugn, ostracize, parallel, pit, pit against, place against, play at cross-purposes, polarize, pose against, preclude, prevent, protest, put in opposition, recalcitrate, recant, refuse to admit, refute, reject, relate, reluct, remonstrate, renounce, repel, repress, repudiate, resist, restrain, restrict, retard, retract, revoke, revolt, run a comparison, run against, run counter to, say no to, scotch, secede, set against, set back, set in contrast, set in opposition, set off, set off against, set over against, show fight, similize, slacken, slow, snub, stand, stand at bay, stand opposed, stand opposite, stand up against, stand up to, stop, strive against, subtend, suppress, swim upstream, take back, take exception, take exception to, take issue, take issue with, think ill of, think little of, thumb down, thwart, traverse, vie, view together, view with disfavor, vote against, weigh, weigh against, withdraw, withhold assent, withstand, work against

ROGET THESAURUS

Oppose

Unwillingness

VB be unwilling, nill, dislike, grudge, begrudge, not be able to find it in one's heart to, not have the stomach to, demur, stick at, scruple, stickle, hang fire, run rusty, recoil, shrink, swerve, hesitate, avoid, oppose, dissent, refuse.

Contrariety

VB be contrary, contrast with, oppose, diller toto coelo, invert, reverse, turn the tables, turn topsy-turvy, turn end for end, turn upside down, turn inside out, contradict, contravene, antagonize.

Hindrance

VB hinder, impede, filibuster, impedite, embarrass, keep off, stave off, ward off, obviate, avert, antevert, turn aside, draw off, prevent, forefend, nip in the bud, retard, slacken, check, let, counteract, countercheck, preclude, debar, foreclose, estop, inhibit, shackle, restrict, obstruct, stop, stay, bar, bolt, lock, block, block up, choke off, belay, barricade, block the way, bar the way, stop the way, forelay, dam up, put on the brake, scotch the wheel, lock the wheel, put a spoke in the wheel, put a stop to, traverse, contravene, interrupt, intercept, oppose, hedge in, hedge round, cut off, inerclude, interpose, interfere, intermeddle, cramp, hamper, clog, clog the wheels, cumber, encumber, incumber, handicap, choke, saddle with, load with, overload, lay, lumber, trammel, tie one's hands, put to inconvenience, incommode, discommode, discompose, hustle, corner, drive into a corner, run foul of, fall foul of, cross the path of, break in upon, thwart, frustrate, disconcert, balk, foil, faze, feaze, feeze, baffle, snub, override, circumvent, defeat, spike guns, spoil, mar, clip the wings of, cripple, put an extinguisher on, damp, dishearten, discountenance, throw cold water on, spoil sport, lay a wet blanket, throw a wet blanket on, cut the ground from under one, take the wind out of one's sails, undermine, be in the way of, stand in the way of, act as a drag, hang like a millstone round one's neck.

Opposition

VB oppose, counteract, run counter to, withstand, control, hinder, antagonize, oppugn, fly in the face of, go dead against, kick against, fall afoul of, run afoul of, set against, pit against, face, confront, cope with, make a stand, make a dead set against, set oneself against, set one's face against, protest against, vote against, raise one's voice against, disfavor, turn one's back upon, set at naught, slap in the face, slam the door in one's face, be at cross purposes, play at cross purposes, counterwork, countermine, thwart, overthwart, work against, undermine, stem, breast, encounter, stem the tide, breast the tide, stem the current, stem the flood, buffet the waves, beat up against, make head against, grapple with, kick against the pricks, contend, do battle with, do battle against, contradict, contravene, belie, go against, run against, beat against, militate against, come in conflict with, emulate, rival, spoil one's trade.

Resistance

VB resist, not submit, repugn, reluct, reluctate, withstand, stand up against, strive against, bear up under, bear up against, be proof against, make head against, stand, stand firm, stand one's ground, stand the brunt of, stand out, hold one's grounds, hold one's own, hold out, hold firm, breast the wave, breast the current, stem the tide, stem the torrent, face, confront, grapple with, show a bold front, present a front, make a stand, take one's stand, kick, kick against, recalcitrate, kick against the pricks, oppose, fly in the face of, lift the hand against, rise up in arms, strike, turn out, draw up a round robin, revolt, make a riot, prendre le mors aux dents, take the bit between the teeth, sell one's life dearly, die hard, keep at bay, repel, repulse.

Contention

VB contend, contest, strive, struggle, scramble, wrestle, spar, square, exchange blows, exchange fisticuffs, fib, justle, tussle, tilt, box, stave, fence, skirmish, pickeer, fight, wrangle, contend with, grapple with, engage with, close with, buckle with, bandy with, try conclusions with, have a brush, with, tilt with, encounter, fall foul of, pitch into, clapperclaw, run a tilt at, oppose, reluct, join issue, come to blows, go to loggerheads, set to, come to the scratch, exchange shots, measure swords, meet hand to hand, take up the cudgels, take up the glove, take up the gauntlet, enter the lists, couch one's lance, give satisfaction, appeal to arms, lay about one, break the peace, compete with, cope with, vie with, race with, outvie, emulate, rival, run a race, contend for, stipulate for, stickle for, insist upon, make a point of.

Counteraction

VB counteract, run counter, clash, cross, interfere with, conflict with, contravene, jostle, go against, run against, beat against, militate against, stultify, antagonize, block, oppose, traverse, withstand, hinder, repress, react, undo, neutralize, counterpoise, overpoise.

Detraction

VB detract, derogate, decry, deprecate, depreciate, disparage, run down, cry down, backcap, belittle, sneer at, criticize, pull to pieces, pick a hole in one's coat, asperse, cast aspersions, blow upon, bespatter, blacken, vilify, vilipend, avile, give a dog a bad name, brand, malign, muckrake, backbite, libel, lampoon, traduce, slander, defame, calumniate, bear false witness against, speak ill of behind one's back, fling dirt, anathematize, dip the pen in gall, view in a bad light, impugn (disparage the motives of), assail, attack, oppose, denounce, accuse.

Counter Evidence

VB countervail, oppose, mitigate against, rebut, subvert, cheek, weaken, contravene, contradict, tell the other side of the story, tell another story, turn the scale, alter the case, turn the tables, cut both ways, prove a negative, audire alteram partem.