the opposition
noun
: a person or group that someone is trying to defeat or succeed against : a person or group that someone is competing with
The coach advised her team not to underestimate the opposition.
Examples of the opposition in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Lawmakers from the opposition Democratic Party lit black flares, threw water at the speaker and occupied seats reserved for government ministers in an attempt to disrupt the session as the country’s new ombudsperson was preparing to take the oath.
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Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 18 Dec. 2025
When the Indian National Congress lost power in 1977 to the opposition Janata coalition, Indian leaders still pursued a diversified foreign policy.
—Tanvi Madan, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
There has been a consistent trend for the government in power to lose popular support and face strong headwinds in Congress from the opposition.
—Andra B. Chastain, The Conversation, 15 Dec. 2025
They were given the licence to push on from central midfield into the channels and make runs behind the opposition’s defence.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 14 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the opposition
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Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 18 Dec. 2025
When the Indian National Congress lost power in 1977 to the opposition Janata coalition, Indian leaders still pursued a diversified foreign policy.
—Tanvi Madan, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
There has been a consistent trend for the government in power to lose popular support and face strong headwinds in Congress from the opposition.
—Andra B. Chastain, The Conversation, 15 Dec. 2025
They were given the licence to push on from central midfield into the channels and make runs behind the opposition’s defence.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 14 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the opposition
Cite this Entry
“The opposition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20opposition. Accessed 22 Dec. 2025.
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