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Synonyms for oppose

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verb

To hold a contrary opinion
object, expose, disapprove, debate, dispute, contradict, argue, search out, deny, run counter to, protest, defy, cross, taunt, controvert, cope, speak against, gainsay, confront, thwart, neutralize, reverse, turn the tables, not countenance, be opposed to, oppose change, not have any part of, face down, militate against, interfere with, disapprove of, cry out against, disagree with, not conform, run against, run counter to, come in conflict with, not abide, go contrary to, part company with, frown at, not be good for, not accept, call in question, be at cross purposes, contrast with, conflict with, grapple with, doubt, be reluctant, be against, be unwilling, reject, dislike, demur, deprecate, take exception, repudiate, repugn, question, probe, resist, confound, confute, refute, stand up for the other side, cry out against*, buck*, turn thumbs down*, cry down*, swim against the stream*, have a brush with*; see also sense 2, dare 2, face 1.
Antonyms agree*, approve, accept.
To fight
resist, battle, encounter, confront, bombard, assault, attack, assail, storm, protest, clash, meet, skirmish, engage, contest, face, restrain, go against, match against, turn against, count against, mark against, uphold, defend, rebel, revolt, secede, mutiny, strike back, combat, run counter to, defy, snub, infringe, strive against, run against, grapple with, fight off, withstand, repel, guard, safeguard, act, shield, counterattack, struggle, outflank, antagonize, retaliate, impede, overpower, take on all comers*, scrap*, lock horns with*, go to the mat*, fly in the face of*; see also fight 2.

See oppose in Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus II

verb

To place in opposition or be in opposition to:
counter, match, pit¹, play off. Idioms: bump heads with, meet head-on, set (or be) at odds, set (or be) at someone's throat, trade blows (or punches). See support
To take a stand against:
buck, challenge, contest, dispute, resist, traverse. See support

See oppose in American Heritage Dictionary 4 Synonyms

oppose fight combat resist withstand contest

These verbs mean to set someone or something in opposition to another: Oppose has the widest application: opposed the building of a nuclear power plant. “The idea is inconsistent with our constitutional theory and has been stubbornly opposed … since the early days of the Republic” (E.B. White).
Fight and combat suggest vigor and aggressiveness: “All my life I have fought against prejudice and intolerance” (Harry S. Truman). “We are not afraid … to tolerate any error so long as reason is left free to combat it” (Thomas Jefferson).
To resist is to strive to fend off or offset the actions, effects, or force of: “Pardon was freely extended to all who had resisted the invasion” (John R. Green).
Withstand often implies successful resistance: “Neither the southern provinces, nor Sicily, could have withstood his power” (Henry Hallam).
To contest is to call something into question and take an active stand against it: contested her neighbor's claims to her property in court.

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