adversary

American  

[ad-ver-ser-ee] / ˈæd vərˌsɛr i /

noun

plural

adversaries

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.

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adjective

1. of or relating to an adversary.

2. involving adversaries, as plaintiff and defendant in a legal proceeding.

   an adversary trial.

adversary British  

/ ˈædvəsərɪ /

noun

1. a person or group that is hostile to someone; enemy

2. an opposing contestant in a game or sport

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adjective

1. the US term for adversarial

Related Words

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.

Other Word Forms

• adversariness noun
• nonadversarial adjective

Etymology

Origin of adversary

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

Example Sentences

The reluctant superhero then sets off on a quest to face “an unexpected and ruthless adversary,” according to the movie’s logline.

From Los Angeles Times

Even adversaries acknowledge him to be a decent guy.

From The Wall Street Journal

Deciphering the DNA of our microbial adversaries has revolutionized our understanding of their evolutionary history.

From The Wall Street Journal

"More problematically, matching adversaries' tone risks creating equivalence in audiences' minds between democratic institutions and disinformation actors."

From Barron's

McDonald is excited to see her freshman go up against a challenging adversary like No. 21 Michigan State.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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