foe

¹

[ foh ]

noun

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

   a bitter foe.

   Synonyms: antagonist, opponent

   Antonyms: friend

2. a military enemy; hostile army.

   Antonyms: friend

3. a person belonging to a hostile army or nation.

   Synonyms: antagonist, opponent

   Antonyms: friend

4. an opponent in a game or contest; adversary:

   a political foe.

   Synonyms: antagonist, opponent

5. a person who is opposed in feeling, principle, etc., to something:

   a foe to progress in civil rights.

   Synonyms: antagonist, opponent

6. a thing that is harmful to or destructive of something:

   Sloth is the foe of health.

F.O.E.

²

abbreviation for

1. Fraternal Order of Eagles.

FoE

¹

abbreviation for

1. Friends of the Earth

foe

²

/ fəʊ /

noun

1. See enemy
   formal.
   another word for enemy

Word History and Origins

Origin of foe¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English foo, Old English fāh “hostile,” gefāh “enemy”; cognate with Old High German gifēh “at war”; feud ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of foe¹

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

Synonym Study

See enemy.

Example Sentences

He should also be remembered for being an early and eloquent foe of Nazism.

From The Daily Beast

There has been no greater foe of campaign finance reform than Mitch McConnell over the years.

From The Daily Beast

Pro-bank conservatives face a predictable foe in the anti-corporate left.

From The Daily Beast

There was no high tech foe in Iraq or Afghanistan, and over Libya, the Raptor was not the right jet for the task.

From The Daily Beast

In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia was the most eager to see an attack on Syria, a long-time political foe.

From The Daily Beast

At last, tired of fighting an unseen foe, the men arose to their feet, and with a wild cheer sprang forward.

From Project Gutenberg

Be this as it may, his conduct during the campaign justified the suspicion with which he was regarded by friend and foe.

From Project Gutenberg

Soult, by every effort of voice and gesture, attempted to force his veterans to face the foe, but in vain.

From Project Gutenberg

As his system is the foe of all artificial methods, it is par excellence the “Natural” System.

From Project Gutenberg

To be sure, I could not see where he could be of much assistance; but we had a common aim and a common foe.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• adversary
• antagonist
• enemy
• rival