op|posed ◆◇◇ /əpoʊ zd/
1 ADJ If you are opposed to something, you disagree with it or disapprove of it. □ [+ to ] We are utterly opposed to racism in all of its forms.
2 ADJ You say that two ideas or systems are opposed when they are opposite to each other or very different from each other. □ [+ to ] …people with policies almost diametrically opposed to his own. □ This was a straight conflict of directly opposed aims.
3 PHRASE You use as opposed to when you want to make it clear that you are talking about one particular thing and not something else. □ We ate in the restaurant, as opposed to the bistro. SYNONYMS opposed ADJ
1
hostile: Many people felt he would be hostile to the idea of foreign intervention.
averse: He's not averse to publicity, of the right kind.
2
conflicting: There are conflicting reports about the identity of the hostage.
opposing: I have a friend who has the opposing view and felt that the war was immoral.
contrary: This view is contrary to the aims of critical social research for a number of reasons.
op|pos|ing /əpoʊ z I ŋ/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] Opposing ideas or tendencies are totally different from each other. □ I have a friend who has the opposing view and felt that the war was immoral.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Opposing groups of people disagree about something or are in competition with one another. □ The Georgian leader said in a radio address that he still favoured dialogue between the opposing sides. □ The batter from the opposing team stepped into the batting box.
op|po|site ◆◇◇ /ɒ pəz I t/ (opposites )
1 PREP If one thing is opposite another, it is on the other side of a space from it. □ Jennie had sat opposite her at breakfast. ● ADV [ADV after v] Opposite is also an adverb. □ He looked up at the buildings opposite, but could see no open window.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] The opposite side or part of something is the side or part that is furthest away from you. □ …the opposite corner of the room.
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n, v-link ADJ , Also v-link ADJ to n] Opposite is used to describe things of the same kind which are completely different in a particular way. For example, north and south are opposite directions, and winning and losing are opposite results in a game. □ All the cars driving in the opposite direction had their headlights on. □ I should have written the notes in the opposite order.
4 N‑COUNT The opposite of someone or something is the person or thing that is most different from them. □ Ritter was a very complex man but Marius was the opposite, a simple farmer. □ Well, whatever he says, you can bet he's thinking the opposite.
o p|po|site nu m|ber (opposite numbers ) N‑COUNT [usu poss N ] Your opposite number is a person who has the same job or rank as you, but works in a different department, firm, or organization. [JOURNALISM ] □ The French Defence Minister is to visit Japan later this month for talks with his Japanese opposite number.
o p|po|site se x N‑SING If you are talking about men and refer to the opposite sex , you mean women. If you are talking about women and refer to the opposite sex , you mean men. □ Body language can also be used to attract members of the opposite sex.
op|po|si|tion ◆◆◇ /ɒ pəz I ʃ ə n/ (oppositions )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Opposition is strong, angry, or violent disagreement and disapproval. □ The government is facing a new wave of opposition in the form of a student strike. □ [+ to ] Much of the opposition to this plan has come from the media.
2 N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb, usu sing, oft N n] The opposition is the political parties or groups that are opposed to a government. □ The main opposition parties boycotted the election, saying it would not be conducted fairly.
3 N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb, usu sing] In a country's parliament or legislature, the opposition refers to the politicians or political parties that form part of the parliament or legislature, but are not the government. □ …the Leader of the Opposition.
4 N‑SING [with sing or pl verb] The opposition is the person or team you are competing against in a sports event. □ [+ for ] Poland provide the opposition for the Scots' last warm-up match at home. SYNONYMS opposition NOUN 1
resistance: Calls for cuts in agricultural export subsidies are meeting resistance.
hostility: There is hostility among traditionalists to this method of teaching history.
disapprovaclass="underline" His action had been greeted with almost universal disapproval.
op|press /əpre s/ (oppresses , oppressing , oppressed )
1 VERB To oppress people means to treat them cruelly, or to prevent them from having the same opportunities, freedom, and benefits as others. □ [be V -ed] These people often are oppressed by the governments of the countries they find themselves in. □ [V n] We are not normal like everybody else. If we were, they wouldn't be oppressing us. [Also V , V n + with ]
2 VERB If something oppresses you, it makes you feel depressed, anxious, and uncomfortable. [LITERARY ] □ [V n] It was not just the weather which oppressed her.
op|pressed /əpre st/ ADJ People who are oppressed are treated cruelly or are prevented from having the same opportunities, freedom, and benefits as others. □ [+ by ] Before they took power, they felt oppressed by the white English speakers who controlled things. ● N‑PLURAL The oppressed are people who are oppressed. □ …a sense of community with the poor and oppressed.