enemy

[en-uh-mee]

noun

plural

enemies 

1. a person who feels hatred for, fosters harmful designs against, or engages in antagonistic activities against another; an adversary or opponent.

   Synonyms: antagonist
   Antonyms: friend

2. an armed foe; an opposing military force.

   The army attacked the enemy at dawn.

   Antonyms: ally

3. a hostile nation or state.

4. a citizen of such a state.

5. enemies, persons, nations, etc., that are hostile to one another.

   Let's make up and stop being enemies.

6. something harmful or prejudicial.

   His unbridled ambition is his worst enemy.

7. the Enemy, the Devil; Satan.

adjective

1. belonging to a hostile power or to any of its nationals.

   enemy property.

2. Obsolete.,  inimical; ill-disposed.

enemy

/ ˈɛnəmɪ /

noun

1. a person hostile or opposed to a policy, cause, person, or group, esp one who actively tries to do damage; opponent

2. 1. an armed adversary; opposing military force

   2. ( as modifier )

      enemy aircraft

3. 1. a hostile nation or people

   2. ( as modifier )

      an enemy alien

4. something that harms or opposes; adversary

   courage is the enemy of failure

Grammar Note

See collective noun.

Other Word Forms

• nonenemy noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of enemy¹

First recorded in 1300–1350; Middle English enemi, from Anglo-French, Old French, from Latin inimicus “unfriendly,” equivalent to in- in- ³ + amicus “friendly, friend”; amicable

Word History and Origins

Origin of enemy¹

C13: from Old French enemi, from Latin inimīcus hostile, from _in- ¹ + amīcus friend

Synonym Study

Enemy, foe refer to a dangerous public or personal adversary. Enemy emphasizes the idea of hostility: to overcome the enemy; a bitter enemy. Foe, a more literary word, may be used interchangeably with enemy, but emphasizes somewhat more the danger to be feared from such a one: deadly foe; arch foe of humankind ( the Devil ).

Example Sentences

"The enemy is trying to stop us completely. This is part of a war tactic meant to cause panic among civilians, destroy our economy, and make the country unliveable."

Read more on BBC

TEL AVIV—Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has emerged as a wartime leader of a regional superpower, who resisted enormous pressure to halt its two-year conflict with Hamas and inflicted severe damage on Israel’s enemies.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It's not known if his fate was discussed when President Sharaa held talks with President Putin in Moscow on Wednesday – the former enemies shaking hands in the Kremlin and discussing how to strengthen relations.

Read more on BBC

Hughes accused Reform of "making people that come to this country, fleeing from war, the enemy".

Read more on BBC

But many of his enemies seem to think they must choose between quelling violence with troops and denying the existence of urban crime.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• adversary 
• agent 
• antagonist 
• attacker www.thesaurus.com
• bandit 
• competitor 
• criminal 
• detractor 
• foe 
• guerrilla 
• invader www.thesaurus.com
• murderer 
• opponent 
• opposition 
• prosecutor 
• rebel 
• rival 
• spy 
• terrorist 
• traitor