The opposite of pro depends on how the word is being used, but the most common opposites are con , anti , and amateur.

Main meanings and opposites

  • When pro means “in favor of” (as in pro-choice , pro-democracy), the usual opposites are:
    • anti
    • against
    • opposed to.
  • When pro means “professional” or “expert” (as in a golf pro), the usual opposites are:
    • amateur
    • beginner , novice , rookie
    • nonprofessional , inexpert.
  • In wordplay and jokes, people often say:

If the opposite of pro is con , then the opposite of progress is congress.
This is a joking etymology; historically the true Latin opposite of pro is contra , not con.

Quick nuance check

  • Anti : Best when talking about being for/against an idea, policy, or movement (pro-vaccine vs anti-vaccine).
  • Con : Best in “pros and cons” lists, meaning arguments against something.
  • Amateur : Best when contrasting skill or status: pro gamer vs amateur gamer.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.