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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of foes
When a chance encounter with a distraught stranger on a subway goes horribly wrong, Reacher is drawn into a complex and deadly game that pits him against ruthless foes from the highest echelons of power.
—
Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 11 May 2026
The 2026 opener will serve as the 13th time the Cowboys have opened the season against the Giants, with Dallas owning an 11-1 record all-time against its divisional foes in season openers.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 May 2026
But soon enough, old secrets and new foes force them back together.
—Lexi Lane, PEOPLE, 10 May 2026
That is going to set off a chain reaction around the world as friends and foes adjust to America’s failure.
—Robert Kagan, The Atlantic, 10 May 2026
The nonconference schedule is loaded with power conference foes and could be the most ambitious in school history.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2026
This year in Week 0, North Carolina faces TCU in Dublin, Ireland and longtime ACC foes NC State and Virginia meet in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
—Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 7 May 2026
The video is also raising questions about the ethics of using AI to realistically depict political foes without permission in campaign ads, even if the ads are not directly commissioned by the candidate.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 6 May 2026
This fourth season was the series’ most ambitious, both in its set pieces (shoot-outs, car chases) and in its interrogation of what its characters value and love, and if Dark Winds can keep mixing up the flavor of Leaphorn and Chee’s foes, its forecast looks good.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 4 May 2026
Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 11 May 2026
The 2026 opener will serve as the 13th time the Cowboys have opened the season against the Giants, with Dallas owning an 11-1 record all-time against its divisional foes in season openers.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 May 2026
But soon enough, old secrets and new foes force them back together.
—Lexi Lane, PEOPLE, 10 May 2026
That is going to set off a chain reaction around the world as friends and foes adjust to America’s failure.
—Robert Kagan, The Atlantic, 10 May 2026
The nonconference schedule is loaded with power conference foes and could be the most ambitious in school history.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2026
This year in Week 0, North Carolina faces TCU in Dublin, Ireland and longtime ACC foes NC State and Virginia meet in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
—Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 7 May 2026
The video is also raising questions about the ethics of using AI to realistically depict political foes without permission in campaign ads, even if the ads are not directly commissioned by the candidate.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 6 May 2026
This fourth season was the series’ most ambitious, both in its set pieces (shoot-outs, car chases) and in its interrogation of what its characters value and love, and if Dark Winds can keep mixing up the flavor of Leaphorn and Chee’s foes, its forecast looks good.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 4 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foes
Noun
-
The nation’s capital is crawling with right-wing enemies of Social Security who would like nothing more.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
8 May 2026
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There's also an optional co-op mode, which allows two players to split the controls of the Arwing starfighter and other vehicles; one person pilots them while the other shoots at enemies.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Earlier this season, Chelsea were leaving three attackers out on the halfway line at defensive corners to give them counter-attacking outlets and to force opponents to match them up, helping clear the penalty area of bodies.—
Graham Scott,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
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Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson used his postgame press conference to defend the 7-foot-4 Wembanyama, specifically the level of physicality Wembanyama gets from opponents during games.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
Two old rivals, the New York Liberty and Connecticut Sun, played the first game of the league’s 30th season with two potentially budding rivals, the Seattle Storm and Golden State Valkyries, capping the night in the third and final game.—
Michael Marot,
Chicago Tribune,
10 May 2026
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The rivals went point-for-point in the final set until Titriyski and Todd combined for a block that brought the score to 23-21 in Hawai’i’s favor.—
Haley Sawyer,
Oc Register,
10 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Foes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foes. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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