ill-wisher

noun

Definition of ill-wishernext
as in enemy

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 ill-wisher As a small country with many ill-wishers, surrounded by militias that clamor for its destruction, Israel often feels itself under siege and classifies any action against it as an unforgivable betrayal. — Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 27 Nov. 2024 Kadyrov denies rights abuses, saying such allegations are fabricated by ill-wishers trying to discredit Chechnya and its authorities. — Reuters, NBC News, 5 July 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ill-wisher
  1. enemy
  2. opponent
  3. hostile
  4. adversary
  5. antagonist
  6. foe
Noun
  • Compassion doesn’t mean that presidents or other public officials should bow to enemies or surrender common sense in tackling the world’s harsh realities.
    — Kathleen Parker, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
  • And despite huge military spending, Saudi forces have struggled to deter their enemies.
    — Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of enemy
Noun
  • Sorrells said that his opponent’s assessment is Ill-informed.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026
  • But that game was in New York and this one was in Charlotte’s backyard and, more importantly, against a far better opponent.
    — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of opponent
Noun
  • Reacher counts 13 hostiles in his surveillance of this makeshift WMD lab.
    — Chris Klimek, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2026
  • His target audience, Cardoza said, is not the small AI filmmaking community but general viewers, including some hostile to the method.
    — Maureen Kerr, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of hostile
Noun
  • Of course ogres and adversaries can shift shapes over decades.
    — Scott Simon, NPR, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Simply put, to stay economically competitive, America needs computing power that matches or beats its adversaries’.
    — Neil Chatterjee, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of adversary
Noun
  • But the two eventually became antagonists, a split that broke into public view in the aftermath of the Palisades fire, which destroyed thousands of homes and left 12 people dead.
    — David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
  • As his recent roles suggest, he is better served performing the catalyst or the antagonist.
    — Henry Alford, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of antagonist
Noun
  • Assassination attempts against Putin's foes -- routinely denied by the Kremlin -- have been common during his decades in power.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Assassination attempts against Putin's foes — routinely denied by the Kremlin — have been common during his decades in power.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of foe

Browse Nearby Words

ill will
ill-wisher
ill-wishers
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ill-wisher.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ill-wisher. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of grotesque

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All