Meaning & use
strong against
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Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
Firmly opposed to something or someone; having a strong dislike or disapproval of.
Grammar: Used after the verb 'be' or other linking verbs, followed by a noun or pronoun: 'She is strong against the plan.'
Patterns
- be strong against something
- be strong against doing something
The senator is strong against the new tax law.
Many parents are strong against the school closing early.
He has always been strong against any form of discrimination.
Common combinations
- strong against the idea
- The committee was strong against the idea of raising fees.
- strong against change
- The older employees are strong against change.
- strong against the proposal
- She remained strong against the proposal until the end.
- strong against doing something
- They are strong against building a new parking lot.
Synonyms and how they differ
- opposed to
- More neutral and common; 'strong against' adds emphasis on the strength of the opposition.
- against
- Simply states opposition without indicating intensity; 'strong against' is stronger.
- hostile to
- Suggests active unfriendliness, while 'strong against' can be a firm but not necessarily unfriendly stance.
Opposites
Word family
- strongly adverb
- In a strong manner; often used with 'oppose' or 'support': 'She strongly opposes the plan.'
- strong adjective
- Having great power or intensity; the base word of the phrase.
Commonly confused: strong against or strong in? strong against or strong on?
strong against vs strong in
Means 'good at' or 'having a lot of' a quality, e.g., 'strong in math'. 'Strong against' expresses opposition.
strong against vs strong on
Means 'knowledgeable about' or 'strict about', e.g., 'strong on security'. Not the same as opposing.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'strong against' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Strong against' is followed directly by a noun or pronoun, so 'strong against the new policy' is correct. Options with 'at', 'to', or 'of' are ungrammatical because those prepositions do not follow this phrase.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “strong against”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.