oppositional

[op-uh-zish-uh-nl] / ˌɒp əˈzɪʃ ə nl /

ADJECTIVE

opposing

Synonyms

WEAK

adversarial adverse against the grain allergic antagonistic anti antipathetic antithetical antonymous at cross-purposes at odds averse battling clashing combating conflicting confronting contrary controverting counter crossing defending defensive denying disagreeing disputed disputing dissentient enemy exposing facing gainsaying hostile in opposition incompatible inimical irreconcilable objecting obstructive opposed opposite protesting repelling restrictive rival up against warring

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Cool became a mainstream commodity in the 1950s with the oppositional tantrums of James Dean.

From The Wall Street Journal

He also presents Christina Crawford as a bitter, oppositional personality from early on, and he quotes other family members who insist they saw none of the abuse alleged in “Mommie Dearest.”

From The Wall Street Journal

But the audience is only privy to this after Aggie agrees to Nile’s invitation to profile him for her next book, instead of examining the unlikely kinship that existed between Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Antonin Scalia, people with starkly oppositional interpretations of the law and justice.

From Salon

Despite all that power, Frey’s turn toward being an oppositional figure stuck.

From Slate

If you read closely – and by that I mean look at a news report over the shoulder of a character doing oppositional research in the third episode, “Metamorphosis” – you’ll see that this is a future mankind allegedly asked for.

From Salon