Synonyms of enemy

enemy

noun

ˈe-nə-mē 

as in opponent

one that is hostile toward another

a beloved minister with no known enemies

Synonyms & Similar Words

• opponent
• foe
• hostile
• adversary
• antagonist
• attacker
• archenemy
• rival
• competitor
• combatant
• invader
• assailant
• archfoe
• nemesis
• bête noire
• bane
• ill-wisher
• emulator

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• friend
• buddy
• fellow
• ally
• partner
• pal
• chum
• mate
• comrade
• musketeer
• colleague
• hearty
• compadre
• accomplice
• crony
• collaborator
• disciple
• amigo
• abettor
• friendly
• follower
• adherent
• hail-fellow
• supporter
• benefactor
• sympathizer
• hail-fellow-well-met
• hobnobber
• confederate
• exponent
• backer
• well-wisher

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of enemy

Venezuelan immigrants repeatedly told AP that a small minority of their own are their worst enemies — not just those who commit crimes but those who drink in public, play loud music and repair cars in the street. — Elliot Spagat, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026

And in The Uprising, basically every land-owning English person is an enemy of the peasants, who are overtaxed by King Richard II (Woody Norman) after the plague kills half of the country’s population. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2026

This approach is also incredibly useful on modern battlefields where electronic warfare and enemy jamming can frequently interfere with communication signals. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 17 Sep. 2026

There’s this common enemy in, or there’s a suspicion of [AI]. — Laina Gustafson, Christian Science Monitor, 17 Sep. 2026