was unopposed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was unopposed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that there was no opposition or resistance to a particular action, decision, or candidate. Example: "The candidate was unopposed in the election, leading to an easy victory."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He was unopposed.

Independent

She was unopposed.

The New York Times

Mr. Denholm was unopposed.

The New York Times

Nancy Van Doren was unopposed.

The Washington Post

Mr. Hayden was unopposed for another term.

The New York Times

Mr. Santorum was unopposed in the Republican primary.

The New York Times

Ms. Boxer was unopposed on the Democratic ballot.

The New York Times

State Representative Richard Bond was unopposed for the Democratic nomination.

The New York Times

The Democratic guberna torial candidate, Richard Kneip, was unopposed.

The New York Times

But Gulati was unopposed in 2010 and 2014.

The Guardian - Sport

In her two most recent elections, she was unopposed.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was unopposed" to clearly and concisely indicate a lack of competition, especially in political or electoral contexts. This avoids ambiguity and efficiently conveys the situation.

Common error

Avoid assuming that being "unopposed" automatically implies popularity or approval. It simply means there were no other contenders, not necessarily that the person or action was universally supported.

Linguistic Context

Was unopposed functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun (often a person or entity) to indicate they faced no opposition in a particular context, typically an election or competition. Ludwig AI confirms its common use, indicating grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Wiki

22%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Science

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was unopposed" is a grammatically correct and frequently used adjective phrase. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's primarily used to describe situations, often political or competitive, where a person or entity faced no opposition. Its neutral tone makes it suitable for various contexts, particularly news and media, as well as in encyclopedic and wiki entries. While the phrase indicates a lack of competition, it's important to remember that it doesn't necessarily imply popularity or approval. Related phrases, such as ""faced no opposition"" or ""ran unopposed"", can offer alternative ways to express similar ideas.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ran unopposed

Focuses on the act of running for a position without opposition.

faced no opposition

Emphasizes the absence of any opposing force or challenge.

had no challenger

Highlights the lack of a competing candidate.

was without opposition

A more formal way of stating the absence of opposition.

encountered no resistance

Implies a lack of pushback or objection.

sailed through

Suggests an easy and effortless victory or passage.

won by default

Indicates a win because of the absence of competitors.

was guaranteed victory

Emphasizes the certainty of winning due to the lack of opposition.

met with no competitors

Focuses on the lack of rival candidates or opponents.

achieved an uncontested win

Highlights that the victory was achieved without any contest.

FAQs

How to use "was unopposed" in a sentence?

You can use "was unopposed" to describe a situation where someone faced no opponents in an election or competition. For example: "The candidate "was unopposed" in the primary election".

What can I say instead of "was unopposed"?

You can use alternatives like "faced no opposition", "had no challenger", or "ran unopposed" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "was unopposed" or "is unopposed"?

"Was unopposed" is used to describe a past event, while "is unopposed" describes a current situation. For example, "He "was unopposed" in the last election" vs "He "is unopposed" in the current election".

What's the difference between "was unopposed" and "won by default"?

"Was unopposed" simply states there were no opponents. "Won by default" implies a win because the opponent(s) withdrew or were disqualified, which adds a different nuance. While both result in a win without direct competition, the reasons differ.