adversarial

adjective

ad·​ver·​sar·​i·​al ˌad-vər-ˈser-ē-əl 

ˌad-və-,

-ˈse-rē-

: involving two people or two sides who oppose each other : of, relating to, or characteristic of an adversary or adversary procedures (see adversary entry 2 sense 2)

an adversarial relationship

an adversarial system of justice with prosecution and defense opposing each other

Synonyms

• adversary
• antagonistic
• antipathetic
• hostile
• inhospitable
• inimical
• jaundiced
• mortal
• negative
• unfriendly
• unsympathetic

Examples of adversarial in a Sentence

an adversarial system of justice with prosecution and defense opposing each other

the relationship between the president and the congress should not be adversarial if anything is to get done

Recent Examples on the Web

The tools take advantage of Generative adversarial networks, which, in essence, try to trick the AI algorithm with incorrect (i.e., adversarial) data. —PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024

This shifted dialogues toward joint problem-solving instead of adversarial defending. —Jonathan H. Westover, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024

The list includes dealing with powerful union resistance to major disciplinary reforms; scrutiny from oversight officials after a rash of confidence-shaking scandals; and calls to improve relations with communities left mistrustful after decades of adversarial policing. —Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2024

At the same time, Ani’s defiant refusal to warm to her assailant feeds into another rom-com formula: the love story that flowers out of an adversarial relationship. —A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 25 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

adversary entry 1 + -al entry 1

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

adversarial

adjective

ad·​ver·​sar·​i·​al

ˌad-vər-ˈser-ē-əl

: involving two people or two sides who oppose each other

Legal Definition

adversarial

adjective

ad·​ver·​sar·​i·​al ˌad-vər-ˈser-ē-əl 

: of, relating to, or characteristic of an adversary or adversary procedures : adversary