frenemy

[ fren-uh-mee ]

noun

1. Informal. a person or group that is friendly toward another because the relationship brings benefits, but harbors feelings of resentment or rivalry:

   Clearly, turning the competition into frenemies is good for your business.

Word History and Origins

Origin of frenemy¹

First recorded in 1950-55; fr(iend) none + enemy none

Example Sentences

Ugh, when your Mom revealed one of your childhood incidents to your best frenemy.

From Washington Blade

Cady Heron, the frenemy responsible for her misguided nutritional plan, replies in the affirmative.

From Popular-Science

Muting sidesteps the awkwardness of a full unfriending, and leaves the door open so you can still reach out to your frenemy.

From Popular-Science

Everyone’s a frenemy now, and everyone’s in everyone else’s business.

From Digiday

Without its Korean frenemy, the company will have to switch to a new megasupplier.

From The Daily Beast

This episode illuminates the omnipresent peril the current president faces in having such a high-profile, high-octane frenemy.

From The Daily Beast

"From far away, she's OK," as Clueless' Cher (Alicia Silverstone) famously explains of her frenemy, Amber.

From The Daily Beast

I don't really count going to 1Oak as being a socialite," sniffs a woman who refers to Snowdon-Jones as her "frenemy.

From The Daily Beast

Gwyneth had a frenemy once and was troubled at the joy she felt when this person suffered a terrible public humiliation.

From The Daily Beast