against
On opposite side
Against conveys the idea of opposition and is the commonest preposition after words suggesting conflict or competition such as game, war, fight, case, charge, and attack.
Uses of against that aren’t nuanced with conflict refer to physical contact: lean the ladder against the wall.
Against can also be used in comparing and contrasting two things: how do the benefits stack up against the risks?
One who contends against
- adversaryEnemy in conflict
- foeHostile opponent
- rivalOne who competes against
- enemyHostile opposing party
antagonist · conflict · dispute · struggle · rebellion · dissent · disagreement · contention
In opposition to
- comparedExamined for similarities
- relativeConnected by blood
- measuredCarefully considered, unhurried
- weighedMeasured heaviness of
benchmarked · stacked · pitted · matched · juxtaposed · set · placed · evaluated
Lacking fat; incline
- pressApply force downward
- restCessation of activity
- braceDevice providing structural stability
- propSupport or stage item
push · bump · collision · impact · touch · brush · nudge · thrust
Handheld defensive armor
- defenseProtection against harm
- safeguardPrecaution against harm
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
- guardWatchful defensive attention
shelter · buffer · insurance · hedge · precaution · inoculation · vaccination · armor
opponent
One who contends against
enemy · antagonist · conflict · dispute · struggle · rebellion · dissent · disagreement · contention · clash
versus
In opposition to
weighed · benchmarked · stacked · pitted · matched · juxtaposed · set · placed · evaluated · assessed
lean
Lacking fat; incline
prop · push · bump · collision · impact · touch · brush · nudge · thrust · slam
shield
Handheld defensive armor
guard · shelter · buffer · insurance · hedge · precaution · inoculation · vaccination · armor · fortification
background
One's formative experiences
- silhouetteFilled-in outline shape
- skylineUrban profile against atmosphere
- horizonApparent earth-sky meeting
outline · profile · framed · set · projected · highlight · shadow · relief · stark · outlined
countdown
Backward enumeration to zero
rushing · crunch · pressure · urgency · hurrying · scrambling · before · prior · approaching · looming
againstwith
In company of
away from · along with · beside · alongside · next to
againstwith
In company of
alongside · together with · beside · accompanying · in league with
- try againRepeat an effort
- again and againOn multiple occasions
- think againRevise your reasoning
- all over againStarting completely over
- once againOne more time
- never againPermanent refusal to repeat