Opposed vs She resisted

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Opposed

Top 2,000 (common)B2adjective

She resisted

Top 2,000 (common)
 OpposedShe resisted
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/əˈpəʊzd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈpəʊzd/"]/🇬🇧 //ʃiː rɪˈzɪstɪd//🇺🇸 //ʃi rɪˈzɪstɪd//
MeaningDisagreeing with something or someone.She fought against something.
ExampleHe was **strongly opposed** to modernism in art.She resisted the urge to eat the cake.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelB2-
Part of speechadjective
Collocationsbe, remain, adamantly, bitterly, deeply, be, seem, stand, completely, diametrically, directly, toresisted temptation, resisted authority, resisted change
Antonymsagree, support, favor-
Common mistakesMixing up 'opposed' with 'oppose', which is the verb form., Using 'opposed' without a clear object, e.g., 'He is opposed.' should be followed by 'to my proposal.', Confusing 'opposed' with 'against', which has a slightly different nuance.Confuse with 'resist' which doesn't need a subject., Use 'resisted' as a continuous form incorrectly., Mix up 'resist' with 'insist'.
Usage notesUse 'opposed' in discussions where there is disagreement or conflict. It's appropriate in both formal and informal contexts but is more common in written English.Use in contexts where someone opposes pressure or temptation. Common in narratives and discussions about conflict.

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She resisted

Frequently asked questions: Opposed vs She resisted

What's the difference between Opposed and She resisted?

Opposed: Disagreeing with something or someone. She resisted: She fought against something.

Can you show an example of each?

Opposed: He was **strongly opposed** to modernism in art. She resisted: She resisted the urge to eat the cake.

Can I use Opposed and She resisted interchangeably?

Not always. Opposed and She resisted are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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