opposer

Les avocats ont cherché à opposer leurs arguments tout au long du procès.

The lawyers sought to oppose their arguments throughout the trial.

Here, 'opposer' is used reflexively with 'leurs arguments' as the direct object, meaning 'to put their arguments in opposition to each other'.

Il a décidé de s'opposer à la décision unanime du conseil, ce qui a créé des tensions.

He decided to oppose the unanimous decision of the council, which created tensions.

The reflexive form 's'opposer à' means 'to oppose (oneself to) something'.

Les deux théories scientifiques s'opposent sur des points fondamentaux.

The two scientific theories oppose each other on fundamental points.

Using 's'opposer' implies that the two theories are inherently in conflict or contrast.

Comment pouvez-vous opposer une telle innocence à la cruauté du monde?

How can you juxtapose such innocence with the cruelty of the world?

In this context, 'opposer' takes on the meaning of 'to juxtapose' or 'to contrast sharply'.

Le gouvernement a dû opposer une fin de non-recevoir aux demandes des manifestants.

The government had to issue a categorical refusal to the protesters' demands.

The idiom 'opposer une fin de non-recevoir' means 'to give a flat refusal' or 'to reject outright'.

Face à la corruption, il a préféré opposer une résistance farouche.

Faced with corruption, he preferred to offer fierce resistance.

'Opposer' is used here with 'résistance' to mean 'to put up resistance' or 'to offer resistance'.

Les idéologies des deux partis politiques s'opposent radicalement.

The ideologies of the two political parties radically oppose each other.

Similar to example 3, 's'opposer' highlights the fundamental disagreement between the ideologies.

On ne peut pas opposer le progrès technologique à la protection de l'environnement.

One cannot pit technological progress against environmental protection.

Here, 'opposer' means 'to pit against' or 'to set against', suggesting a false dichotomy.