Synonyms of adversaries

adversaries

noun

plural of adversary

1

as in enemies

one that is hostile toward another

our old cat seemed to consider the new kitten an adversary

Synonyms & Similar Words

• enemies
• opponents
• foes
• hostiles
• antagonists
• attackers
• rivals
• competitors
• combatants
• archenemies
• invaders
• assailants
• ill-wishers
• nemeses
• archfoes
• bêtes noires
• banes
• emulators

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• friends
• allies
• partners
• buddies
• colleagues
• pals
• fellows
• amigos
• chums
• cronies
• musketeers
• comrades
• collaborators
• compadres
• mates
• accomplices
• confederates
• adherents
• disciples
• abettors
• followers
• supporters
• hearties
• sympathizers
• benefactors
• hail-fellows
• friendlies
• hobnobbers
• exponents
• hail-fellows-well-met
• backers
• well-wishers

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

• opponents
• foes
• rivals
• competitors
• antagonists
• enemies
• contestants
• equals
• matches
• attackers
• combatants
• archenemies
• invaders
• assailants
• nemeses
• curses
• bêtes noires
• banes

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• allies
• partners
• supporters
• accomplices
• advocates
• proponents
• confederates
• champions
• exponents
• sympathizers

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of adversaries

The Russia and Ukraine conflict grinds into a fifth year; a new Fed chair settles in while tariff policy whipsaws through the courts; tensions with allies and adversaries alike continue to flare. — Nigel Morris, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

The executive leveraged that rare access to convey messages back and forth between the two former adversaries, and helped free US hostages held in Venezuela in 2025. — Patricia Garip, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2026

Also in the parade ranks were new uncrewed submersible vehicles – underwater drones, stealthy in their own right, that could pose a threat to any of Beijing’s adversaries. — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026

Layered on top is rhetoric, from the highest levels of government, that casts career scientists as adversaries rather than protectors. — Daniel Jernigan, STAT, 7 Aug. 2026

More fundamentally, Trump treats foreign policy as a series of bilateral transactions rather than a cohesive project designed to advance national security—and this applies to allies and adversaries alike. — Ariane Tabatabai, Time, 4 Aug. 2026

The United States must also negotiate with the adversaries its partners are fighting. — Dafna H. Rand, Foreign Affairs, 4 Aug. 2026

Every intelligence assessment on the subject released since 2016 has maintained that what adversaries like Russia, China, and Iran seek most of all is simply to sow as much doubt as possible about American democracy. — David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026

Months ago, businesses fretted over adversaries using AI to attack. — Samantha Subin, CNBC, 1 Aug. 2026