oppositional
Prone to resist
Oppositional describes a tendency to resist, contradict, or take contrary positions.
The word often appears in psychological contexts: oppositional defiant disorder is a diagnosis for persistent patterns of hostile, disobedient behavior in children.
More broadly, oppositional characterizes anyone inclined to push back against authority, consensus, or expectations: His oppositional stance made every meeting a battle.
Withstanding external forces
- noncompliantFailing to conform
- uncooperativeUnwilling to assist others
- recalcitrantStubbornly resistant to control
- obstinateFirmly refusing to yield
stubborn · intractable · contrarian · rebellious · insubordinate · disobedient · refractory · obstructive
Actively opposed or hostile
- confrontationalInclined toward hostile encounters
- hostileAggressively unfriendly
- combativeInclined toward conflict
- contentiousInclined toward disagreement
disputatious · belligerent · pugnacious · friction · clash · rivalry · resistance · counteraction
Diametrically opposed to
- contradictoryLogically opposed to itself
- inverseOpposite in position
- converseEngage in dialogue
- counterFlat service surface
contrasting · opposing · polar · dichotomous · negating · antonymous · counterposed · diametric
resistant
Withstanding external forces
- noncompliantFailing to conform
- uncooperativeUnwilling to assist others
- recalcitrantStubbornly resistant to control
obstinate · stubborn · intractable · contrarian · rebellious · insubordinate · disobedient · refractory · obstructive · willful
antagonistic
Actively opposed or hostile
- confrontationalInclined toward hostile encounters
- hostileAggressively unfriendly
- combativeInclined toward conflict
contentious · disputatious · belligerent · pugnacious · friction · clash · rivalry · resistance · counteraction · hostility
antithetical
Diametrically opposed to
- contradictoryLogically opposed to itself
- inverseOpposite in position
- converseEngage in dialogue
counter · contrasting · opposing · polar · dichotomous · negating · antonymous · counterposed · diametric · conflicting
- misbehaviormisbehave, misbehavior, mischief, misconduct, naughty
- oppositionadversary, rival, foe, enemy, nemesis
- hostile attitudeshostile, aggressive, combative, belligerent, adversarial
- interferenceinterfering, meddling, intruding, butting in, obstructing
oppositionalcooperative
Jointly operated enterprise
collaborative · supportive · collegial · allied · harmonious
oppositionalconcordant
In harmony together
similar · aligned · congruent · like-minded · sympathetic
oppositionalcompliant
Yielding to others' wishes
cooperative · acquiescent · accommodating · amenable · obedient
- in oppositionActively against something
- opposition partyFaction challenging ruling government
- opposition researchInvestigating adversaries for damaging information
- opposition leadersHeads of competing parties
- political oppositionParties opposing current government
- loyal oppositionPrincipled dissent within system