ILL-WISHER Synonyms: 51 Similar and Opposite Words

ill-wisher

noun

Definition of ill-wisher

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

Noun

But rewrite the scene a little bit – Vader, after lopping off Luke’s hand, cradles him in his lap as the young man wakes up slowly to see the dark mask of his enemy above him.

— Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Valerian both underestimated the enemy and overestimated Roman military strength.

— Robin Wright, New Yorker, 17 July 2026

Definition of enemy

Noun

He was also sent off for a headbutt against an opponent who provoked him in his last ever match, which happened to be the 2006 World Cup final; his human reaction laid bare on the highest stage of all.

— Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 21 July 2026
Prenga, boasting a 20-1 record with 20 KOs, represents a significant step up in competition despite his previous opponents.

— Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026

Definition of opponent

Noun

Energy costs, vanishing federal subsidies and an administration in Washington hostile to clean energy are giving officials reasons to retreat from efforts to deal with climate change and the political cover to do so.

— Andres Clarens, The Conversation, 17 June 2026
During the recent demonstration test, the Bird of Prey took off from a launch cradle, and once in the air was able to autonomously search for, detect, and classify a target drone standing in for a hostile.

— David Szondy April 04, New Atlas, 4 Apr. 2026

Definition of hostile

Noun

Cyberattacks on mobile networks allowed adversaries — likely Iran or its allies — to seek the locations of specific phones.

— Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 17 July 2026
It’s been understood for years that America’s adversaries and allies alike take a keen interest in how this country practices an imperfect democracy.

— Philip Elliott, Time, 17 July 2026

Definition of adversary

Noun

The games are known for the exhilaration of the first-person shootouts, organic open-world playgrounds, unique stories, and memorable antagonists.

— Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 14 July 2026
Campbell is the chief antagonist of the first two seasons of the show, and is a man who made his name brutally putting down the Irish Republican Army in Belfast before being sent to Birmingham to take on Tommy Shelby and the organized crime gangs.

— Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 13 July 2026

Definition of antagonist

Noun

Iran has proven to be a far more formidable foe than initially anticipated, and Keir Simmons tells me why the fight is over control of the Strait of Hormuz — not Iran’s nuclear program.

— Yasmin Vossoughian, NBC news, 16 July 2026
Bovo, who resigned his post last year to join a lobbying firm, was a political foe of Hialeah’s current mayor, Bryan Calvo.

— Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 10 July 2026

Definition of foe

Browse Nearby Words

ill will

ill-wisher

ill-wishers

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Ill-wisher.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ill-wisher. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of ill-wisher

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

stalwart

Popular in Grammar & Usage

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

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

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

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

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

Popular

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

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes