enemy

noun

Save Word

en·e·my | \ ˈe-nə-mē

plural enemies

Definition of enemy

1 : one that is antagonistic to another especially : one seeking to injure, overthrow, or confound an opponent

2 : something harmful or deadly alcohol was his greatest enemy

3a : a military adversary

b : a hostile unit or force

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about enemy

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Synonyms & Antonyms for enemy

Synonyms

Antonyms

amigo,
friend

Examples of enemy in a Sentence

He made a lot of enemies during the course of his career. Tradition is the enemy of progress.

Recent Examples on the Web Amalia is always going on about her big mission, and identifying a common enemy is one way for a general to raise an army. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, "The Nevers Recap: Whodunnit," 2 May 2021 Although pharma businesses aren’t always known for lending each other a hand, a big part of Brainstorm Health’s second day focused on companies’ collaborations when COVID emerged as a common enemy. — Fortune, "Health care’s access dilemma and lessons from Brainstorm Health," 29 Apr. 2021 In the 1930s, the Navy and Marine Corps identified Japan as a likely future enemy and developed—and practiced—the ideas of naval aviation and island-hopping that eventually won the Pacific War. — Seth Cropsey, WSJ, "America’s Naval Strategy Is at Sea," 27 Apr. 2021 In fact, the climate crisis is literally a world war, against a common enemy. — Bill Mckibben, The New Yorker, "Biden’s Earth Day Climate Pledge for 2030 Will Define His Presidency," 22 Apr. 2021 Rates usually fall off during times of war or natural disasters, when people feel drawn together to fight for survival against a common enemy. — New York Times, "U.S. Suicides Declined Over All in 2020 but May Have Risen Among People of Color," 15 Apr. 2021 Eritrea, a longtime Tigray enemy, teamed up with neighboring Ethiopia in the conflict. — Time, "The U.N. Is Warning of an 'Alarming' Crisis in Ethiopia's Tigray Region," 26 Mar. 2021 In many ways, this is a change from the days of Latasha Harlins, uniting around a common enemy of white supremacy. — Los Angeles Times, "Column: The secret to keeping this moment of solidarity between Black and Asian Americans," 24 Mar. 2021 Amazon makes for a convenient enemy for Republicans who exhibit only opportunistic concern for workers. — Jacob Silverman, The New Republic, "Marco Rubio’s Lazy, Bad Faith Effort to Weaponize Amazon Workers," 12 Mar. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'enemy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.