Noun
Many considered him a foe of democracy.
Her ability was acknowledged by friend and foe alike.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
From foe to friend: the Los Angeles Kings have hired Ken Holland as their new general manager.—Carol Schram, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025 Find out if ants are friends or foes to your peonies, plus how to remove them before bringing cut peony flowers indoors.—Anne Readel, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 May 2025 The Old Guard 2 again see powerful foes who have caught onto their undying tricks, looking to capitalize on that power.—Jack Smart, People.com, 8 May 2025 The willy-nilly assault on friends and foes has shaken global confidence in U.S. reliability.—The Wall Street Journal, Twin Cities, 5 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for foe
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English fo, from Old English fāh, from fāh, adjective, hostile; akin to Old High German gifēh hostile
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of foe was
before the 12th century
Share