opponent

Compared meaning: someone on the opposing side in a contest (noun).

比较义项：比赛、竞争或对抗中的对手、敌手（名词）。

• opponent 本词

  The plain, everyday word for someone you compete against, in sports, games, debates, or elections; it does not imply anger or real hostility, just being on the opposing side of a contest.

  最普通、最中性的说法，指体育比赛、游戏、辩论或选举中与自己对立的一方（opponent）；并不暗示愤怒或真正的敌意，只是处于竞争的对立面。

  Her tennis opponent played much better in the second set.

  她的网球 opponent 在第二盘打得好得多。

• adversary

  A more formal, stronger word suggesting real hostility or a serious, ongoing conflict; used for a bitter, formidable, or sworn rival in politics, war, or a fierce contest, not just any competitor.

  语气更正式、更强烈，暗示真正的敌意或持续的严重冲突；常用于政治、战争或激烈较量中难缠、强劲或誓不两立的对手（adversary），而不只是一般的竞争者。

  The two senators have been sworn adversaries for over a decade.

  这两位参议员十多年来一直是誓不两立的 adversary。

• antagonist

  Mainly describes a character or force that actively works against the main person, especially in a story or film; used more generally it still stresses deliberate, ongoing opposition rather than a simple contest.

  主要指故事或电影中主动与主人公作对的角色或势力（antagonist）；泛指使用时也强调蓄意、持续的对抗，而不只是单纯的比赛关系。

  The story's antagonist tries to stop the hero at every turn.

  这个故事里的 antagonist 处处阻挠主人公。

Opponent, adversary, and antagonist mean someone on the opposing side. Opponent is plain and neutral, a rival in sports or debates. Adversary is stronger and more formal, implying real hostility or serious conflict. Antagonist means a story character opposing the hero, stressing deliberate, ongoing opposition.

这三个词在这一义项上都可以表示比赛、竞争或冲突中与自己对立的一方，但语气和使用场合不同：opponent 最普通、最中性，只是单纯的竞争对立面；adversary 语气更正式、更强烈，暗示真正的敌意或严峻的较量；antagonist 多用于故事、小说中主动与主角作对的角色，带有叙事色彩，泛指时也强调蓄意、持续的对抗。