as in opponent
one that is hostile toward another
a beloved minister with no known enemies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of enemy
Raised on a strict diet of toughness and discipline by his father, Dean arrives with undeniable talent – and an arrogance that quickly earns him enemies.
—
Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
By inertia, some vestiges remain of the awful weeks in 2022 when enemy forces stood at the edge of Kyiv.
—Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026
Experts emphasize that sugar itself isn't the enemy — rather, refined, fast-absorbing sugar is.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 11 Feb. 2026
According to superstition, each animal has its animal friends and its animal enemies.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for enemy
Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
By inertia, some vestiges remain of the awful weeks in 2022 when enemy forces stood at the edge of Kyiv.
—Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026
Experts emphasize that sugar itself isn't the enemy — rather, refined, fast-absorbing sugar is.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 11 Feb. 2026
According to superstition, each animal has its animal friends and its animal enemies.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for enemy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enemy
Noun
-
And males are more aggressive when the opponent is the same color, and brighter.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Now Rubio was telling liberal centrist foreign leaders that their entire outlook was wrong, echoing the far-right populist opponents who might well unseat them in upcoming elections.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Aggies’ starting pitcher Weston Moss was strong against the Southern Conference foe.—
Tony Catalina,
Austin American Statesman,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Navalny, who crusaded against official corruption and staged massive anti-Kremlin protests as President Vladimir Putin’s fiercest foe, died in the Arctic penal colony in February 2024.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
But no one has just been out-and-out hostile to him.—
Matthew Stolle,
Twin Cities,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Deputy District Attorney Scott Pirrello told jurors that Bushey had a history of acting hostile toward family members and that his sister’s abrupt presence in the home set him off, leading him to act out and her to fear for her safety.—
City News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Enemy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enemy. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
