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

And on Wednesday, his relatives, colleagues and one-time adversaries gathered near that office to share them. — Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 30 July 2026

Graham saw Israel’s violence, unlike the violence committed by America’s adversaries, as inherently righteous. — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 29 July 2026

At the same time, an already untenable diplomatic effort to end the war has faltered once again as mistrust deepens between the longtime adversaries. — ABC News, 29 July 2026

Her organization, the nation's largest scholarship provider for Native American students, was founded in 1969 by former adversaries to empower Native people through education. — Laurel Donnellan, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

Nearly 20 years later, the two adversaries shared authority and received the same annual salary (36 florins), even though Brunelleschi supplied the dome’s principal structural and mechanical solutions. — Alicja Zelazko, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026

As an undergrad, Miller began doing research at CERN, an international physics laboratory near Geneva that was founded after World War II to facilitate ambitious experiments and build bridges between countries that had recently been adversaries. — Lisa Song, CNN Money, 28 July 2026