You're staring at the grid. Ink is drying. The coffee is getting cold, and you’ve got four letters for to oppose crossword clue that just won't click. It’s frustrating because "oppose" is one of those slippery English words that fits everywhere but belongs nowhere specific until you see the crossings.
Crossword puzzles aren't just about knowing definitions. They’re about knowing how an editor's brain works. When a constructor like Will Shortz or Patti Varol puts "to oppose" in a Monday New York Times puzzle, they want something simple. By Saturday? They want to ruin your morning.
The Usual Suspects: Most Common Answers
Most of the time, the answer is ANTI.
It’s the classic prefix. It’s short. It’s got two vowels. It’s a constructor's dream for filling those tight corners of the grid. If you see "To oppose" or "Opposed to," and the count is four letters, ANTI is your statistically safest bet. Honestly, it’s almost too easy, which is why veteran solvers often hesitate. We look for something more complex, but sometimes the simplest answer is the right one.
But what if it's not?
If the count is three letters, you’re likely looking at CON. As in "pros and cons." It’s the flip side of the coin. It’s the debate stage. It’s basic, but it works. Then there’s BUCK, as in "to buck the trend." This one usually catches people off guard because we think of the animal first.
When the Difficulty Spikes: The Nitty-Gritty
Language is messy. That’s why crosswords are fun. When the clue moves away from simple prefixes, it dives into the nuances of conflict and resistance.
Take AGAINST. It’s seven letters. It’s a preposition, but it functions perfectly as a synonym for being in opposition. Or consider RESIST. This implies a physical or moral standing-of-ground. You aren't just saying no; you're pushing back.
The Hidden Gems of Opposition
Sometimes the constructor is feeling fancy. They might use GAINSAY. It’s an old-school word. You don't hear people at the grocery store saying, "I must gainsay your choice of cereal." But in the world of the Los Angeles Times or Wall Street Journal crosswords, it’s gold. It literally means "to say against."
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Then there’s THWART. This is one of those great onomatopoeic-adjacent words. It feels heavy. It feels final. If you thwart someone, you haven't just opposed them; you've stopped them in their tracks. It’s a five-letter powerhouse.
- DEFY: Four letters. High impact. This is opposition with an attitude. It’s not just a "no," it’s a "try and make me."
- COPE: This is a rarer one. Usually, it means to manage, but in certain archaic or specific dialect contexts, to cope meant to come to blows or to encounter in opposition.
- FIGHT: The most literal version. Five letters. It’s visceral.
Why Context Matters More Than the Word
Crosswords are built on a "part of speech" rule. If the clue is a verb, the answer has to be a verb. If the clue is an adjective, the answer is an adjective.
"To oppose" is an infinitive verb. That means your answer must also be a verb in its base form. You won't see "OPPOSED" as the answer if the clue is "To oppose." It would be "To have opposed." This tiny grammatical detail is the difference between a solved corner and a mess of eraser shavings.
Think about the specific kind of opposition. Is it formal? Is it physical? Is it a vote?
If it’s a vote, the answer might be NAY or NOE (the latter being a bit of a "crosswordese" stretch, but it happens). If it’s a legal setting, you might be looking at REBUT or OBJECT.
The Case for REBEL
Sometimes the clue is looking for something more systemic. REBEL is a five-letter answer that fits perfectly when the opposition is against an authority or a government. It carries a different weight than just "disagreeing."
Similarly, CONTRA pops up often. Thanks to 1980s politics and 1990s video games, this word is firmly lodged in our collective lexicon as a synonym for "against."
Decoding the Constructor's Tricks
Crossword constructors love puns. They love misdirection. If you see a question mark at the end of the clue—To oppose?—everything changes.
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The question mark means "I’m lying to you, sort of." It might be a pun on "oppose" sounding like "up-hose" (it doesn't, but they try) or maybe it's looking for something like SIT IN. A "sit-in" is a form of opposition, but it’s phrased as a noun-turned-verb.
You also have to watch for the "crosswordese" favorites. These are words that exist almost exclusively in the world of puzzles because they have high vowel-to-consonant ratios. ETUI isn't an opposition word, but ALEE and ANOA are everywhere. In the realm of opposition, keep an eye out for OBVIATE. It means to render unnecessary or to oppose effectively by anticipation. It’s a long one, but it’s a favorite for filling vertical columns.
Practical Tips for Your Next Grid
When you hit a wall with to oppose crossword clue, don't just guess. Use the "check-cross" method.
Look at the letters you already have from the "Downs" if you're working on an "Across." If you have an A and a T in a four-letter word, ANTI is almost certainly it. If you have an I at the end, maybe it’s DEFI (a French variant that occasionally sneaks in) or more likely, you've got the wrong ending for a different word.
- Check the Tense: Ensure your answer matches the "to" in the clue.
- Count the Letters: 3 (CON), 4 (ANTI, DEFY), 5 (REPEL, BUCK), 6 (RESIST), 7 (AGAINST, GAINSAY).
- Consider the Theme: If the puzzle is themed around "The 60s," maybe the answer is PROTEST.
Nuances in Meaning
REPEL is another great five-letter option. It’s more about driving something away. If you oppose an invasion, you repel it. It’s active. It’s energetic.
VETO is specific. It’s opposition from a position of power. A president doesn't just "oppose" a bill; they veto it. This is a common four-letter answer in puzzles that have a slight political or historical bent.
Real Examples from the Big Puzzles
In a 2023 New York Times puzzle, the clue "To oppose" led to the answer FACE. Think about it: "to face down an opponent." It’s clever because "face" is so often used as a noun.
In a 1998 archive (yes, people study these), the answer was THWART.
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In more modern, "indie" puzzles like those from American Values Club or Fireball Crosswords, you might find more colloquial answers like NIX or DISH.
Actionable Steps for Solving
Next time you see this clue, don't panic. Follow this logic chain:
First, look at the letter count. That eliminates 80% of the dictionary. Second, check if there’s a question mark. If there is, start thinking about puns or non-literal meanings. Third, look at the intersecting words. Even one confirmed letter usually narrows "to oppose" down to a single viable candidate.
Keep a mental list of the big three: ANTI, CON, and RESIST. They cover a huge chunk of all puzzle instances. If it's none of those, start looking for the "power" verbs like VETO, BUCK, or DEFY.
Crosswords are a game of vocabulary, sure, but they’re mostly a game of patterns. The more you solve, the more you realize that "oppose" isn't a challenge; it's an opportunity to see how the constructor is trying to play with your head.
To improve your speed, start noting down every time you see this clue and what the answer ended up being. You'll start to see that certain newspapers have "favorite" answers for this specific prompt. The NYT loves ANTI, while more "intellectual" journals might lean toward GAINSAY or REBUT.
Get comfortable with the idea that your first guess might be wrong. If ANTI doesn't fit, pivot immediately to BUCK or VETO. Flexibility is the hallmark of a master solver.