to oppose / counter
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to oppose
To actively take a stand against someone or something; to resist or take an opposing position.
Die Anwohner setzten sich den Plänen für die neue Fabrik entschieden entgegen.
The residents firmly opposed the plans for the new factory.
to counter
To put forward or use something as a counterargument, counterexample, or opposing force.
Der scharfen Kritik hatte der Redner argumentativ nur wenig entgegenzusetzen.
The speaker had little to counter the sharp criticism with in terms of arguments.
'Entgegensetzen' (to oppose/counter) is a separable verb. In a main clause, the prefix 'entgegen' comes at the end of the sentence. In the infinitive construction with 'zu', 'zu' comes between the prefix and the verb.
Der Redner setzte der Kritik starke Argumente entgegen.
The speaker countered the criticism with strong arguments.
The verb has two main patterns. Reflexive with the dative means to resist: 'sich jemandem/etwas (Dativ) entgegensetzen' (to oppose someone/something). Transitive with dative and accusative means to use something as a counterargument: 'jemandem/etwas (Dativ) etwas (Akkusativ) entgegensetzen' (to counter someone/something with something).
Die Mitarbeiter setzten sich dem neuen Chef entgegen.
The employees opposed the new boss.
In the reflexive form 'sich entgegensetzen' (to oppose), the verb always needs a dative object that names the opponent or the opposing matter.
Man sollte sich dem sozialen Druck nicht immer entgegensetzen.
One should not always oppose social pressure.
The expression 'nichts entgegenzusetzen haben' (to have nothing to counter with / to have no objection) is very common. It means that one has no counterarguments and agrees with something.
Gegen diesen Vorschlag hatte niemand etwas entgegenzusetzen.
No one had anything to counter this proposal with.
to contradict
Someone who widerspricht a person directly shows that they do not agree with that person’s opinion. Someone who entgegensetzt something to a position deliberately puts forward a counterargument, counterexample, or other means against it. Entgegensetzen therefore states more clearly what is being used to oppose the other position.
Mara setzt dem Vorschlag ihres Kollegen ein klares Kostenargument entgegen.
Mara counters her colleague’s proposal with a clear cost argument.
Mara widerspricht ihrem Kollegen, weil sie seinen Vorschlag für zu teuer hält.
Mara contradicts her colleague because she considers his proposal too expensive.
