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
The fans reveled in the rally, the thrashing of Goliath, the awareness that this World Series pitted two foes who belonged on the same field.—Andy McCullough, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025 In a separate interview on One Night with Steiny, 6ix9ine clowned his longtime foe Lil Tjay for being shot at a Chipotle in New Jersey back in 2022.—Mackenzie Cummings-Grady, Billboard, 24 Oct. 2025 From foe to friend In the closing days of the mayor’s race, Adams seems to have had a change of heart about his former opponent.—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025 Children’s Health Defense, the organization Kennedy built into one of the fiercest foes of childhood vaccines, took interest in the Idaho bill early on.—Audrey Dutton, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 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