frenemy

noun

fren·​e·​my ˈfre-nə-mē 

plural frenemies

informal : a person who is or pretends to be a friend but who is also in some ways an enemy or rival

In Hollywood, everyone has lots of frenemies, usually people who are doing comparatively well at any given moment.

—Pete Clark

In an awkward awards ceremony, Phil [Mickelson] and Tiger [Woods] stood on the 18th green together as frenemies. Phil held up the crystal trophy for the tournament title, while Tiger squirreled away a $10 million bonus for winning the FedEx Cup …

—Selena Roberts

Examples of frenemy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Teddy has the hots for Seattle Pres trauma surgeon Cass Beckman (Sophia Bush), and Owen sleeps with childhood frenemy Nora Young (Floriana Lima). —Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2025

The new footage introduces Sennott as Maia, a staffer at a talent management company who is vying to be promoted to a junior manager position when Tallulah (Odessa A’zion), a frenemy she’s lost touch with who is a social media influencer, reappears in her life. —Leia Mendoza, Variety, 8 Oct. 2025

But the most toothsome morsel involves Harris’ longtime frenemy, California Gov. Gavin Newsom. —Mark Z. Barabak, Boston Herald, 6 Oct. 2025

Lively also shared a special photo of the late Michelle Trachtenberg, who died at the age of 39 in February and played Serena's frenemy Georgina Sparks on the show. —Michael Nied, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

blend of friend entry 1 and enemy

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for frenemy

• enemy

Kids Definition

frenemy

noun

fren·​e·​my

ˈfren-ə-mē

plural frenemies

informal : someone who pretends to be a friend but is really an enemy