Motståndare

Motståndare is a Swedish noun meaning "opponent" or "adversary." It refers to a person, team, or group that competes against or resists another party in a given situation, such as a sports match, a political campaign, a legal dispute, or a debate. The term is used in both formal and informal language and can designate a rival, antagonist, or obstacle in a broad sense.

In sports, the motståndare is the team or athlete one competes against in a match or tournament. In politics and public life, it can describe an opponent to a proposal, candidate, or policy. In arguments or negotiations, motståndare denotes someone who challenges one's position. The word is neutral and does not inherently imply hostility; the tone and actions of the parties involved determine the connotation.

Lexical notes: The word is formed by mot- meaning "against" and -ståndare. The plural is motståndare; the definite plural is motståndarna. Indefinite singular is en motståndare, definite singular is motståndaren. Common collocations include möta sina motståndare (to meet one’s opponents), vinna över sina motståndare (to prevail over one’s opponents), and visa respekt för sina motståndare (to show respect for one’s opponents). Related terms include konkurrent (competitor) and antagonist, used in more specific or literary senses.