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 final moments of UConn’s 73-57 victory over UCLA on Sunday night were the culmination of a triumph in the NCAA Tournament, over a formidable opponent, and those two often insurmountable foes, injury and pain.
—
Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 23 Mar. 2026
But there are many more foes in their new land.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 23 Mar. 2026
Which is, on paper, a savvy complement to Sutton, who can move the chains, body up smaller foes outside the hashes and win jump balls in the end zone.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 21 Mar. 2026
And the Assads—who had spent their careers prying lies from spies—recognized the lies their neighbors, and some government officials, liked to tell themselves, lies that foes of the US had always counted on.
—Adam Ciralsky, Vanity Fair, 19 Mar. 2026
Beijing remains an economic partner—China is the largest buyer of oil from both Iran and Russia—but Xi is otherwise reluctant to get dragged into a wider war or invite American or European sanctions by arming America’s foes in battle.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
Because this last week – which featured four games against quality foes – seemed like a good time to crank the dial.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 16 Mar. 2026
The event was marked with its usual round of roasts aimed at Boston Democrats’ political foes and each other.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 15 Mar. 2026
Berg Johnsen noted Wicky’s attacking mindset and focus on dominating foes in possession.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 14 Mar. 2026
Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 23 Mar. 2026
But there are many more foes in their new land.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 23 Mar. 2026
Which is, on paper, a savvy complement to Sutton, who can move the chains, body up smaller foes outside the hashes and win jump balls in the end zone.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 21 Mar. 2026
And the Assads—who had spent their careers prying lies from spies—recognized the lies their neighbors, and some government officials, liked to tell themselves, lies that foes of the US had always counted on.
—Adam Ciralsky, Vanity Fair, 19 Mar. 2026
Beijing remains an economic partner—China is the largest buyer of oil from both Iran and Russia—but Xi is otherwise reluctant to get dragged into a wider war or invite American or European sanctions by arming America’s foes in battle.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
Because this last week – which featured four games against quality foes – seemed like a good time to crank the dial.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 16 Mar. 2026
The event was marked with its usual round of roasts aimed at Boston Democrats’ political foes and each other.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 15 Mar. 2026
Berg Johnsen noted Wicky’s attacking mindset and focus on dominating foes in possession.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 14 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foes
Noun
-
But with war raging on multiple fronts and no end in sight, Israel's enemies in Iran and Lebanon may help make that decision for him.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 Mar. 2026
-
The inscription would have sent enemies quite an impression as it was burned into the stone with molten lead, as if daring the attackers to continue their useless advance, Live Science continues.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
At the core of the MAGA project and Trumpism is disruption and destruction, the delegitimization and razing of institutions, and the brutalization of opponents.—
Peter Wehner,
The Atlantic,
23 Mar. 2026
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The Knicks’ stretch of tanking opponents concludes with Tuesday’s matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Far-right politicians have lost to mainstream rivals in the southern cities of Nîmes and the port of Toulon, a major naval base on the Mediterranean, which were two key targets for the National Rally.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Mar. 2026
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This shipyard has become a symbol of American industrial decline, a money loser falling decades behind our global rivals.—
Lesley Stahl,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Foes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foes. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
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