opponent
/əˈpoʊnənt/
noun
plural
opponents
plural
opponents
Britannica Dictionary definition of OPPONENT
[count]
1
:
a person, team, group, etc., that is competing against another in a contest
-
She is a formidable opponent in the race for senator.
-
The team's opponents have not lost a game this season.
-
He knocked out his opponent in the third round.
2
:
a person, group, etc., that is against something (such as an action, law, or system)
:
someone or something that does not want something to exist, be done, etc.
—
often + of
—
opposite proponent