mutual opposition
1
7.7
- noun
- /ˈmjuːtʃuəl ˌɒpəˈzɪʃən/
- The mutual opposition of their ideas made it difficult to reach a consensus during the discussions.
Examples
-
In the debate, the mutual opposition between the two candidates highlighted their differing philosophies.
-
The team's mutual opposition to the project led to a stalemate in their negotiations.
-
Each is defined by its mutual opposition to the other: "we believe what we do not see."
Academic text (2007)
Synonyms
320
3.4
The act of resisting an idea, plan, or change
120
4.7
Unfriendly or angry actions and feelings toward someone
16
6.9
Hostile feeling between people or groups
6
7.0
Two opposite ideas or feelings, for example hope and despair
1
7.5
A disagreement between ideas, people, or interests
1
9.9
A state in which two ideas or things are opposite and cannot both be true
1
8.1
Complete disagreement between two things that are exact opposites
1
9.2
A habit of often disagreeing and refusing to do what others ask
1
9.1
A state where ideas or statements say opposite things and cannot both be true
A state where two things are completely different, like day and night
How Opposed
1
7.7
45
4.1
320
3.4
469
3.2
24
4.4
27
4.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly derivable from combining 'mutual' (held equally by both parties) with 'opposition' (resistance or dissent); a B1 learner who knows both words can infer it refers to two parties opposing each other. This adjective+noun composition is literal and common across languages, so the relation is immediately comprehensible.
Etymology
The phrase mutual opposition may come from the simple image of two people or teams facing each other and pushing back so neither side moves. Here mutual means both sides and opposition means 'acting against', so the phrase describes two things that are 'directly opposed to each other'.