1
as in enemies
one that is hostile toward another
are you friend or foe?
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
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
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Recent Examples of foes
The dog paces to and fro, hackles bristling, snapping at the empty air, its head turning one way, then the other, as if aware of invisible foes in the valley around them.
—
Maggie O’Farrell, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
Daemon rocks the trailer with blood on his face from sticking his sword into foes.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 29 May 2026
The Bruins have faced foes’ best efforts all season.
—Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 29 May 2026
In the semifinals, Barnes and Tran rallied past Marina’s David Tran and Alejandro Hill 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 in a clash of Sunset League foes.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 29 May 2026
Common Problems Like most garden plants, begonias have their foes—but with knowledge and care, pests and diseases shouldn't be too much of a problem.
—Lauren David, Martha Stewart, 29 May 2026
There was nothing but the flat red clay of Court Philippe-Chatrier in front of him, with no generational foes to worry about and cooler weather forecast for the second week.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Unlike the current administration going after political foes and trying to find crimes, the previous administration saw a crime and investigated without fear or favor.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 27 May 2026
Dungeons & Dragons is a tabletop roleplaying game where players create fantasy characters and roll dice to determine whether their actions, like a sword attack or a persuasive argument, are successful against their foes.
—Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026
Maggie O’Farrell, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
Daemon rocks the trailer with blood on his face from sticking his sword into foes.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 29 May 2026
The Bruins have faced foes’ best efforts all season.
—Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 29 May 2026
In the semifinals, Barnes and Tran rallied past Marina’s David Tran and Alejandro Hill 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 in a clash of Sunset League foes.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 29 May 2026
Common Problems Like most garden plants, begonias have their foes—but with knowledge and care, pests and diseases shouldn't be too much of a problem.
—Lauren David, Martha Stewart, 29 May 2026
There was nothing but the flat red clay of Court Philippe-Chatrier in front of him, with no generational foes to worry about and cooler weather forecast for the second week.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Unlike the current administration going after political foes and trying to find crimes, the previous administration saw a crime and investigated without fear or favor.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 27 May 2026
Dungeons & Dragons is a tabletop roleplaying game where players create fantasy characters and roll dice to determine whether their actions, like a sword attack or a persuasive argument, are successful against their foes.
—Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foes
Noun
-
Israel steps up Lebanon strikes Israeli forces intensified strikes in Lebanon and killed the military chief of Hamas in Gaza, moves analysts said were driven by fears a potential US-Iran deal may curtail Israel’s ability to hit its enemies.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
29 May 2026
-
According to the footage, what awaits Rhaenyra during her reign are fearful subjects, conniving enemies, sleepless nights and plenty of anguish.—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Donalds’ opponents have repeatedly tried to knock him for supporting the expansion of AI data centers in the state.—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
1 June 2026
-
Up until the issuing of the judge’s temporary restraining order, many of its opponents described feeling helpless about a project that, in their eyes, had an air of inevitability.—
Matthew Stolle,
Twin Cities,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
With so many of his friends and rivals stuck on shore, Botin acknowledged his lead in the standings didn’t give him the usual sense of satisfaction.—
Andrew Rice,
New York Times,
31 May 2026
-
Shares of psychedelic drug developers such as Compass Pathways and other rivals tied to the space rallied following the announcement, with Wall Street analysts arguing the order could legitimize an industry long viewed as fringe.—
Brandon Gomez,
CNBC,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Foes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foes. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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