Synonyms of foe

foe

noun

ˈfō 

1

as in enemy

one that is hostile toward another

are you friend or foe?

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

• opponent
• rival
• adversary
• enemy
• competitor
• antagonist
• contestant
• match
• nemesis
• attacker
• combatant
• archenemy
• assailant
• invader
• equal
• bane
• curse
• bête noire

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• partner
• ally
• accomplice
• champion
• supporter
• proponent
• advocate
• confederate
• exponent
• sympathizer

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of foe

That could counterweight the visibility of one of the champions of a federal incentive, California’s junior senator Schiff, one of the president’s biggest foes. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2026

Contemporary foes like Iraq’s Saddam Hussein and North Korea’s Kim Jong-il remained firmly, if sometimes noisily, contained. — Michael E. Neagle, Hartford Courant, 8 Sep. 2026

Al-Qaeda’s foes included not just the United States but also other supposed foreign occupiers, such as India, Israel, and Russia. — Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2026

Zheng has ​become Flushing Meadows’ most entertaining escape artist this year, coming back from ⁠a 0-5 deficit in the deciding set against third-round foe Madison Keys. — Reuters, NBC news, 7 Sep. 2026