adversarial
adjective
ad·ver·sar·i·al
ˌad-vər-ˈser-ē-əl 
ˌad-və-,
-ˈse-rē-
: involving two people or two sides who oppose each other : of, relating to, or characteristic of an adversary or adversary procedures (see adversary entry 2 sense 2)
an adversarial relationship
an adversarial system of justice with prosecution and defense opposing each other
Synonyms
Examples of adversarial in a Sentence
an adversarial system of justice with prosecution and defense opposing each other
the relationship between the president and the congress should not be adversarial if anything is to get done
Recent Examples on the Web
During his first term, Trump’s unconventional diplomacy with another recalcitrant nuclear power, North Korea, ultimately went nowhere, and overall his administration achieved few notable breakthroughs in dealing with adversarial powers.
—
Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2024
Existing norms of deterrence still operate, even if they are being tested, and so direct, large-scale military conflict between major adversarial states is unlikely, although the risks are heightened.
—Shane Croucher, Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2024
States’ representatives were frustrated and adversarial in their remarks during separate panels later in the CRWUA event.
—Austin Corona, The Arizona Republic, 7 Dec. 2024
Under the Sixth Amendment, defendants must have legal representation, an indispensable necessity in our adversarial system.
—Anthony Michael Kreis, Rolling Stone, 4 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for adversarial 
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Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2024
Existing norms of deterrence still operate, even if they are being tested, and so direct, large-scale military conflict between major adversarial states is unlikely, although the risks are heightened.
—Shane Croucher, Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2024
States’ representatives were frustrated and adversarial in their remarks during separate panels later in the CRWUA event.
—Austin Corona, The Arizona Republic, 7 Dec. 2024
Under the Sixth Amendment, defendants must have legal representation, an indispensable necessity in our adversarial system.
—Anthony Michael Kreis, Rolling Stone, 4 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for adversarial
Dictionary Entries Near adversarial
Cite this Entry
“Adversarial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adversarial. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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adversarial
adjective
ad·ver·sar·i·al
ˌad-vər-ˈser-ē-əl
: of, relating to, or characteristic of an adversary or adversary procedures : adversary
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