1
as in enemy
one that is hostile toward another
are you friend or foe?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in opponent
one that takes a position opposite another in a competition or conflict
this Saturday our team will go up against our longtime foes in a game that will determine the champion of the conference
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 foe
Beyond the Epstein files, Democrats raised broad concerns about the Justice Department increasingly investigating and prosecuting the president’s political foes.
—
Ana Ceballos, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Pine has outscored its playoff foes 24-0.
—Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Feb. 2026
Atlanta sits a half game ahead of the Hornets (25-29) and this is the fourth and final regular-season matchup between the Southeast Division foes.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 11 Feb. 2026
This Caped Crusader has defeated countless enemies, leaving his foe determined to prove himself as the Biggest Bad around.
—Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for foe
Ana Ceballos, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Pine has outscored its playoff foes 24-0.
—Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Feb. 2026
Atlanta sits a half game ahead of the Hornets (25-29) and this is the fourth and final regular-season matchup between the Southeast Division foes.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 11 Feb. 2026
This Caped Crusader has defeated countless enemies, leaving his foe determined to prove himself as the Biggest Bad around.
—Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for foe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foe
Noun
-
Xenomorphs, meanwhile, tried to overwhelm humans and Yautja with a mix of speed and stealth (camping while glued to a ceiling to jump-scare enemies never got old).—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
15 Feb. 2026
-
And, perhaps most importantly, we are feared by the enemies all over the globe.—
WILL WEISSERT,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
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
-
The male cockroaches are territorial, defending females in their area and competing against encroaching rivals.—
Emma Gometz,
Scientific American,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Officials say the goal is to stabilize Venezuela’s economy, reduce migration pressures and counter the influence of geopolitical rivals in Latin America.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Foe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foe. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
