adversary

[ ad-ver-ser-ee ]

noun

, plural ad·ver·sar·ies.

1. a person, group, or force that opposes or attacks; opponent; enemy; foe.

   Antonyms: ally

2. a person, group, etc., that is an opponent in a contest; contestant.
3. the Adversary, the devil; Satan.

adjective

1. of or relating to an adversary.
2. involving adversaries, as plaintiff and defendant in a legal proceeding:

   an adversary trial.

adversary

/ ˈædvəsərɪ /

noun

1. a person or group that is hostile to someone; enemy
2. an opposing contestant in a game or sport

adjective

1. See adversarial
   the US term for adversarial

Other Words From

• adver·sari·ness noun
• nonad·ver·sari·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of adversary¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English adversarie, from Latin adversārius; equivalent to adverse + -ary; replacing Middle English adversere, from Anglo-French

Word History and Origins

Origin of adversary¹

C14: from Latin adversārius, from adversus against. See adverse

Synonym Study

Adversary, antagonist mean a person or a group contending against another. Adversary suggests an enemy who fights determinedly, continuously, and relentlessly: a formidable adversary. Antagonist suggests one who, in hostile spirit, opposes another, often in a particular contest or struggle: a duel with an antagonist.

Example Sentences

Perhaps because it had been passed down by leaders who understood the significance of engaging the adversary in their own language, the phrase stuck.

From Ozy

It would “be a major challenge for an adversary” to forge or change enough ballots to shift the outcome of the election, he told the Senate Homeland Security Committee last week.

From Popular-Science

Back then, Kolfage told Fox 10 Phoenix that he felt he needed to take legal action after adversaries started going after his family and tried to ruin the career of his wife, who was a teacher and a model.

From ProPublica

In particular, I was helping them to try and understand how the adversaries in Afghanistan and Pakistan were financing themselves.

From Freakonomics

We know our adversaries around the world are pursuing their own advances.

From Fortune

The North Korean hackers have proven to be a persistent adversary, if not the most skilled one.

From The Daily Beast

In spite of the many disagreeements, the Obama administration, he said, does not view Russia as “an adversary.”

From The Daily Beast

All the Americans, from FDR down, underestimated the capabilities of their adversary, and exaggerated their own.

From The Daily Beast

Are we not allowed to talk about our deepest human adversary without being sucked back into a political controversy?

From The Daily Beast

The al Qaeda prisoners we held at CIA facilities helped us understand the adversary.

From The Daily Beast

While he stood, apparently quiescent, in the clutch of his adversary, he still held his hand on his sword.

From Project Gutenberg

He kept his sword pointed at the eyes of his adversary; but he never rested for an instant.

From Project Gutenberg

This time there was no interference, and Ney so severely wounded his adversary that he was unable to continue his profession.

From Project Gutenberg

It always pains me to acknowledge that any man, even an adversary, has acted dishonourably.

From Project Gutenberg

And thirdly he knew that his adversary would cheat if he could and that his adversary suspected him of fraudulent designs.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• antagonist
• attacker
• competitor
• enemy
• foe
• opponent
• rival