adversary

[ad-ver-ser-ee]

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.

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. the US term for adversarial

Other Word Forms

• adversariness noun
• nonadversarial 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

He warned that falling behind US adversaries in the nuclear arms race would be a "very serious" threat to America's status as "the last great superpower."

Read more on Barron's

This isn’t solely because we perceive celebrities these days as more detached; we resent the seemingly substantial advantage celebrities confer when supporting our adversaries.

Read more on Salon

The truth hovers tantalizingly out of focus, and the characters’ duplicity becomes its adversary.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The story follows the battle between these adversaries for the futures of the Alcorn boys.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Prosecutors over time have found a range of motives behind the unlawful retention of sensitive documents, from hoarding mementos of government service to plans of selling secrets to foreign adversaries.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• antagonist 
• attacker www.thesaurus.com
• competitor 
• enemy 
• foe 
• opponent 
• rival