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 nearly one-kilometer-long bridge, which opened earlier this year, hovers above the Tamsui River, potentially giving adversaries direct entry to the heart of Taipei. — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026

Those same capabilities let defenders spot flaws and build patches before adversaries gained access to AI as advanced as Mythos. — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 5 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

Water systems have long been particularly attractive targets for our adversaries as these utilities provide essential services but often use outdated industrial control systems with many water systems lacking even basic cybersecurity precautions. — Steve Weisman, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

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

Lawmakers had already introduced a bipartisan proposal that would block federal agencies from using certain robots tied to foreign adversaries. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 31 July 2026