Word
opposed
Phoneticsop·posed, stress on the second syllable
US/əˈpoʊzd/
UK/əpˈəʊzd/
Definitions
01disagreeing with a plan
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. disagreeing strongly with something, such as a plan or a law.
adj. actively resisting or disagreeing with a specific policy, action, or idea. Often used with the preposition 'to'.
“Most of the local residents are opposed to the plan to build a new shopping mall.”
“The board of directors remained firmly opposed to the merger, citing concerns over the long-term stability of the partner company.”
Usage
Commonly follows the verb 'to be' and takes the preposition 'to'.
Pitfall
They are opposed against the new law.
They are opposed to the new law.
The adjective 'opposed' is followed by the preposition 'to', not 'against'.
Antonyms
02completely different
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. being as different as possible from something else.
adj. situated or moving in a direction or position that is diametrically different; contrasting in nature.
Español:opuesto
“The two brothers have completely opposed views on how to spend money.”
“The researchers reached entirely opposed conclusions despite analyzing the same set of raw data from the clinical trials.”
Usage
Often used to describe abstract concepts like views, interests, or goals.
Synonyms
03past action of resisting
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. the past tense of 'oppose', meaning you tried to stop something from happening.
v. the past tense and past participle of the transitive verb 'oppose', indicating the act of competing against or resisting an entity.
“The small army opposed the invasion for three weeks before retreating.”
“Throughout his political career, he consistently opposed any legislation that threatened environmental protections.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “opposed” in context.
Verb
01. become opposed to the policy
“The public quickly became opposed to the policy after the tax increases were announced.”
verb + adj + prep + noun
02. remain opposed to the plan
“Several local residents remain opposed to the plan to build a new shopping mall in the park.”
verb + adj + prep + noun
Adjective
03. opposed to the idea
“I am not entirely opposed to the idea, but I need to see more details first.”
adj + prep + noun
Preposition
04. as opposed to
“We should focus on quality as opposed to quantity if we want to satisfy our customers.”
prep + noun + prep
Adverb
05. bitterly opposed to the merger
“The board members were bitterly opposed to the merger, fearing it would lead to job losses.”
adv + adj + prep + noun
06. diametrically opposed views
“The two candidates hold diametrically opposed views on how to handle the economic crisis.”
adv + adj + noun
07. strongly opposed to the change
“The union is strongly opposed to the change in working hours.”
adv + adj + prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“On average, even MPs who support a climate policy think the public is more opposed to it than it really is," Tanase said.” “Power over the people, as opposed to power of the people, is a dangerous thing.” - Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/opposed
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0