1
as in enemies
one that is hostile toward another
our old cat seemed to consider the new kitten an adversary
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in opponents
one that takes a position opposite another in a competition or conflict
our adversaries in tomorrow's meet are from one of the top schools in the league
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of adversaries
Seoul — North Korea on Tuesday commissioned its largest-ever warship, a 5,000-ton destroyer that military analysts say could give Pyongyang’s adversaries something more to think about in a time of crisis.
—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
24 June 2026
Instead of demanding personal fealty or humiliating them to assert personal dominance, Lincoln absorbed their egos and occasional slights, elevating their talents and turning his fiercest political adversaries into his most devoted champions.
—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
24 June 2026
Friends and adversaries alike pay close attention to what Americans believe about themselves.
—
Philippa Stroud,
Washington Post,
23 June 2026
Your people are not your adversaries.
—
Dan Adika,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
The measure’s main backer is the SEIU United Health Workers West, whose president, Dave Regan, has a long track record of using ballot measures as a cudgel to win concessions from labor adversaries.
—
Evelyn Ronan,
Sacbee.com,
23 June 2026
Short for Transparent Secure Memory Encryption, TSME encrypts the entire contents stored in memory, making the data useless to adversaries performing cold boot attacks and similar intrusions requiring physical access.
—
Dan Goodin,
ArsTechnica,
22 June 2026
Together, Ukraine’s tactical, operational, and strategic drone campaigns represent one of the most important military innovations of the conflict and offer a model for how smaller states can impose disproportionate costs on larger adversaries.
—
Hunter Lacroix,
Baltimore Sun,
20 June 2026
The adversaries made for a striking scene, exchanging insults in mutually unintelligible languages in the dead of night.
—
Literary Hub,
16 June 2026
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
24 June 2026
Instead of demanding personal fealty or humiliating them to assert personal dominance, Lincoln absorbed their egos and occasional slights, elevating their talents and turning his fiercest political adversaries into his most devoted champions.
—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
24 June 2026
Friends and adversaries alike pay close attention to what Americans believe about themselves.
—
Philippa Stroud,
Washington Post,
23 June 2026
Your people are not your adversaries.
—
Dan Adika,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
The measure’s main backer is the SEIU United Health Workers West, whose president, Dave Regan, has a long track record of using ballot measures as a cudgel to win concessions from labor adversaries.
—
Evelyn Ronan,
Sacbee.com,
23 June 2026
Short for Transparent Secure Memory Encryption, TSME encrypts the entire contents stored in memory, making the data useless to adversaries performing cold boot attacks and similar intrusions requiring physical access.
—
Dan Goodin,
ArsTechnica,
22 June 2026
Together, Ukraine’s tactical, operational, and strategic drone campaigns represent one of the most important military innovations of the conflict and offer a model for how smaller states can impose disproportionate costs on larger adversaries.
—
Hunter Lacroix,
Baltimore Sun,
20 June 2026
The adversaries made for a striking scene, exchanging insults in mutually unintelligible languages in the dead of night.
—
Literary Hub,
16 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adversaries
Noun
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Those of us who care about keeping liberalism alive need Europeans to start defending it against all of its enemies—in Moscow, Beijing, and Washington.
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In the book, Leganski offers a rare, unfettered account of what goes into becoming speaker of the House, and takes digs at enemies.
Noun
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In Monday’s annual Homeowners Association board election, president Karl de Borbon is running for a ninth consecutive term against opponents who accuse him of rigging last year’s election and a June 8 vote for a swimming pool deck refurbishment project and a bylaw amendment.
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But the move enabled Florida to lock in what will be one of the best top-six forward groups in the league, slotting Brady Tkachuck into the left wing spot on the second line alongside center Sam Bennett and right wing Matthew Tkachuk that will cause opponents major headaches.
Noun
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The Atlas Lions also frustrated their Scottish foes with their physicality, taking down Christie, McTominay and others with a series of hard challenges that did not draw whistles.
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Sure, Carpenter’s cut-the-ruggers are pizzazzing with their flips and cartwheels, but the Grande gang make formidable dance foes in the Sharks and Jets sense of the word.
Noun
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The intoxicating pull of the manosphere – the hyper-online community led by men who tout misogynistic definitions of manliness – has given Glass a boisterous brigade of rivals.
-
But its comfort, confidence, and overall road smoothness equal many of its rivals’ personas.
Cite this Entry
“Adversaries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adversaries. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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