foe

¹ American  

[foh] / foʊ /

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.

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F.O.E. ² American  

abbreviation

1. Fraternal Order of Eagles.

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FoE ¹ British  

abbreviation

1. Friends of the Earth

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foe ² British  

/ fəʊ /

noun

1. formal another word for enemy

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Related Words

See enemy.

Etymology

Origin of foe

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

Example Sentences

It was a gritty upset victory over a foe widely considered more talented, made possible through determination and sheer force of will.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

Wall Street is unsure whether Kevin Warsh will be a friend or foe.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026

"What's so exciting is that our treatment converts these cells from protecting the cancer to killing it. We've turned foe into ally."

From Science Daily • Jan. 30, 2026

The accident occurred weeks after Joshua stopped YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami to stay on course to face old foe Tyson Fury this year.

From Barron's • Jan. 29, 2026

The question she sent Jeremy seemed to translate as "Friend or foe?"

From "Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher" by Bruce Coville

Related Words

• adversary
• antagonist
• enemy
• rival