foe

[ foh ]

/ foʊ /

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noun

a person who feels enmity, hatred, or malice toward another; enemy: a bitter foe.

a military enemy; hostile army.

a person belonging to a hostile army or nation.

an opponent in a game or contest; adversary: a political foe.

a person who is opposed in feeling, principle, etc., to something: a foe to progress in civil rights.

a thing that is harmful to or destructive of something: Sloth is the foe of health.

Words nearby foe

focusing cloth, focusing screen, fodder, fodderbeet, fodgel, foe, foefie slide, foehn, foeman, foetal, foetation

Origin of foe

First recorded before 900; Middle English foo, Old English fāh “hostile,” gefāh “enemy”; cognate with Old High German gifēh “at war”; see origin at feud¹

SYNONYMS FOR foe

1, 3–5 opponent, antagonist.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR foe ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR foe

1–3 friend.

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synonym study for foe

1. See enemy.

Definition for foe (2 of 2)

F.O.E.

Fraternal Order of Eagles.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples from the Web for foe

In geopolitics, the doctrine of mutually assured destruction prevents the use of weapons of mass destruction against a foe.
The App Bringing Out The Best/Worst in Washington’s Gays|Scott Bixby|May 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In a GOP runoff today, candidate T.J. Fabby has attacked his foe for accepting Muslim money.
How I Made Sure a Texas Tea Party Candidate Accepted ‘Dirty’ Muslim Money|Dean Obeidallah|May 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
To a progressive, he is both friend and foe; both visionary and reactionary.
Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, Israel’s Pragmatic Kingmaker|Jay Michaelson|October 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Which is how he and Johns made a living in their early days – as his foe Hilton Kramer liked to point out.
Magpie Loose in a Car Dealership|Blake Gopnik|July 17, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a foe of the industry, has been seated on the Senate banking committee.
Pity the Poor Bankers|Daniel Gross|January 17, 2013|DAILY BEAST
None, however, were falling on the wood because here friend and foe were lying almost within bayonet length of each other.
The Sky Pilot in No Man's Land|Ralph Connor
These circumstances had given extensive notoriety to her name, and drawn largely upon her the observation of both friend and foe.
Horse-Shoe Robinson|John Pendleton Kennedy
Let his foe follow him, and find him for himself, but not through me!
Dombey and Son|Charles Dickens
He was generous towards his aged parents; was deeply imbued with a sense of religion, and was the foe of vice in every form.
The Modern Scottish Minstrel, Volume II.|Various
No one within the ranch knew it, but within two hundred yards lay the foe Lar Tantril and his men feared most.
The Passing of Ku Sui|Anthony Gilmore

British Dictionary definitions for foe (1 of 2)

foe

/ (fəʊ) /

noun

formal, or literary another word for enemy

Word Origin for foe

Old English fāh hostile; related to Old High German fēhan to hate, Old Norse feikn dreadful; see feud 1

British Dictionary definitions for foe (2 of 2)

FoE

FOE

abbreviation for

Friends of the Earth

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

foe

noun

Words related to foe

Words nearby foe

Origin of foe

SYNONYMS FOR foe

ANTONYMS FOR foe

synonym study for foe

Definition for foe (2 of 2)

Examples from the Web for foe

British Dictionary definitions for foe (1 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for foe

British Dictionary definitions for foe (2 of 2)

FOE

abbreviation for