opposers
People who resist
Opposers are people who oppose—those who resist, object to, or stand against something.
The word is straightforward but relatively uncommon; opponents or detractors usually fill this role in contemporary usage.
The bill's opposers gathered signatures for a petition.
Those who compete against
- antagonistsOpponents in conflict
- enemiesHostile opposing parties
- foesHostile opponents
- criticsThose who evaluate work
detractors · rivals · challengers · nemeses · contenders · disputants · objectors · contrarians
Those publicly opposing something
- dissidentsPolitical objectors
- rebelsArmed opposition fighters
- activistsPeople working for causes
- demonstratorsPublic protest participants
boycotters · insurgents · defiers · nonconformists · agitators · strikers · picketers · saboteurs
Long-term conflict participants
- combatantsThose engaged in warfare
- belligerentsParties waging war
- battlersPeople engaged in conflict
- fightersThose who engage physically
warring parties · sparring partners · quarrelers · brawlers · warmongers
opponents
Those who compete against
- antagonistsOpponents in conflict
- enemiesHostile opposing parties
- foesHostile opponents
critics · detractors · rivals · challengers · nemeses · contenders · disputants · objectors · contrarians · naysayers
protesters
Those publicly opposing something
- dissidentsPolitical objectors
- rebelsArmed opposition fighters
- activistsPeople working for causes
demonstrators · boycotters · insurgents · defiers · nonconformists · agitators · strikers · picketers · saboteurs · subversives
feuders
Long-term conflict participants
- combatantsThose engaged in warfare
- belligerentsParties waging war
- battlersPeople engaged in conflict
warring parties · fighters · sparring partners · quarrelers · brawlers · warmongers
- Political Groupsfaction, Republican Party, caucus, Democratic Party, wing
opposerssupporters
People who back something
backers · advocates · proponents · allies · champions
- as opposed toIndicating contrast between alternatives
- diametrically opposedUtterly contrary in nature