1
: one who has personal enmity for another
Embrace, embrace, my Sons! be foes no more!—
Alexander Pope
Alexander Pope3
: one who opposes on principle
a foe of needless expenditures
a foe of censorship
4
: something prejudicial or injurious
a foe to health
Fraternal Order of Eagles
Examples of foe in a Sentence
Noun
Many considered him a foe of democracy.
Her ability was acknowledged by friend and foe alike.
Recent Examples on the Web
Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 31 Jan. 2026
The clash between immigration enforcement agents and protesters in Minneapolis is the latest front in a high-stakes global arms race between governments and their domestic foes over who has better technology — and who has the right to use it.
—Rachyl Jones, semafor.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Performing strongly in Europe this term save for losses to English giants Liverpool and Manchester City, Madrid didn’t have much to do except keep things tight in Lisbon and overcome a foe that has struggled both domestically and continentally in 2025/2026.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Workman, who makes the Terminator look like a slacker, proves a formidable foe for the older Mason.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for foe
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Commentators sided with the worshippers and villainized Lemon, who has been a prominent Trump foe for years, including during his time as a prime time CNN anchor.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 31 Jan. 2026
The clash between immigration enforcement agents and protesters in Minneapolis is the latest front in a high-stakes global arms race between governments and their domestic foes over who has better technology — and who has the right to use it.
—Rachyl Jones, semafor.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Performing strongly in Europe this term save for losses to English giants Liverpool and Manchester City, Madrid didn’t have much to do except keep things tight in Lisbon and overcome a foe that has struggled both domestically and continentally in 2025/2026.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Workman, who makes the Terminator look like a slacker, proves a formidable foe for the older Mason.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for foe
Cite this Entry
“Foe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foe. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
foe
noun1
: one who hates another
2
: an enemy in war
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
