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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of adversaries
The move suggests a broader shift in Tehran, where a new generation of leaders is increasingly abandoning the cautious, reactive approach that long defined the Islamic Republic’s strategy towards its adversaries.
—
Abbas Al Lawati, CNN Money, 10 June 2026
Nicaragua’s government has also imprisoned adversaries, religious leaders, journalists and more, then exiled them, stripping hundreds of their citizenship and possessions.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
As geopolitical competition intensifies and adversaries rapidly scale autonomous systems of their own, autonomy increasingly becomes a national security imperative.
—Tim Burns, Fortune, 9 June 2026
Nicaragua’s government has also imprisoned adversaries, religious leaders, journalists and more, then exiled them, stripping hundreds of their citizenship and possessions.
—ABC News, 8 June 2026
The models have shown themselves adept at finding security flaws in software, creating concerns that adversaries could use them to launch cyberattacks on government agencies, banks and critical infrastructure.
—Cat Zakrzewski The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 7 June 2026
Also, Mars will slip into Gemini and your seventh house of agreements, commitments and adversaries, heating up relationship dynamics, making debates faster and more direct.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 4 June 2026
After prolonged ground wars in the Middle East, recovery ate up Army funding — at the same time the service needed to prepare to confront increasingly technologically advanced adversaries.
—Ryan D. McCarthy, Washington Post, 4 June 2026
The sources said the plea deal does not allege any wrongdoing by Bolton in connection with the publication of his book, nor is he accused of taking home any classified records or sharing them with the media or foreign adversaries.
—Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 4 June 2026
Abbas Al Lawati, CNN Money, 10 June 2026
Nicaragua’s government has also imprisoned adversaries, religious leaders, journalists and more, then exiled them, stripping hundreds of their citizenship and possessions.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
As geopolitical competition intensifies and adversaries rapidly scale autonomous systems of their own, autonomy increasingly becomes a national security imperative.
—Tim Burns, Fortune, 9 June 2026
Nicaragua’s government has also imprisoned adversaries, religious leaders, journalists and more, then exiled them, stripping hundreds of their citizenship and possessions.
—ABC News, 8 June 2026
The models have shown themselves adept at finding security flaws in software, creating concerns that adversaries could use them to launch cyberattacks on government agencies, banks and critical infrastructure.
—Cat Zakrzewski The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 7 June 2026
Also, Mars will slip into Gemini and your seventh house of agreements, commitments and adversaries, heating up relationship dynamics, making debates faster and more direct.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 4 June 2026
After prolonged ground wars in the Middle East, recovery ate up Army funding — at the same time the service needed to prepare to confront increasingly technologically advanced adversaries.
—Ryan D. McCarthy, Washington Post, 4 June 2026
The sources said the plea deal does not allege any wrongdoing by Bolton in connection with the publication of his book, nor is he accused of taking home any classified records or sharing them with the media or foreign adversaries.
—Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 4 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adversaries
Noun
-
Hunger and disease are always enemies that accompany war and sometimes can claim more lives than the fighting itself.—
William Lambers,
Hartford Courant,
6 June 2026
-
The big and heavy fights in the new trailer for gen ATLAS (shown below) really remind me of fighting various large enemies in Gigantic Drive.—
Ollie Barder,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Noun
-
While the ruling was a win for death penalty opponents fighting against the use of nitrogen gas, the court stopped short of granting Lee a stay of execution or attempting to banish the method altogether.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
9 June 2026
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Their opponents, who sought to defeat the Constitution’s ratification, were then dubbed the Anti-Federalists, much to the latter’s consternation.—
Jordan Cash,
The Conversation,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
Bolton is one of three prominent Trump foes who were indicted in federal court during the president's second, nonconsecutive term in the White House.—
Dan Mangan,
CNBC,
4 June 2026
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But the stark contrast between the two NFC West foes was underscored Monday with the Rams’ blockbuster trade with the Cleveland Browns to acquire future Hall of Fame pass rusher Myles Garrett.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
During the course of the series so far, the two best teams in baseball had become the bitterest of rivals, the animosity between them fueled by the Cubs’ treatment of their teammate Mark Koenig, a versatile infielder who’d been traded from the Yankees in mid-season.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
-
James Adams, a political science professor at UC Davis, said that Becerra and Bass coming through indicates the centrist Democratic candidates were in a stronger short-term position than their rivals.—
National Correspondent,
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Adversaries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adversaries. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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