frenemy

[ fren-uh-mee ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Informal. a person or group that is friendly toward another because the relationship brings benefits, but harbors feelings of resentment or rivalry:
Clearly, turning the competition into frenemies is good for your business.

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Origin of frenemy¹

First recorded in 1950-55; fr(iend) none + enemy none

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Ugh, when your Mom revealed one of your childhood incidents to your best frenemy.

Cady Heron, the frenemy responsible for her misguided nutritional plan, replies in the affirmative.

Muting sidesteps the awkwardness of a full unfriending, and leaves the door open so you can still reach out to your frenemy.

Everyone’s a frenemy now, and everyone’s in everyone else’s business.

Without its Korean frenemy, the company will have to switch to a new megasupplier.

This episode illuminates the omnipresent peril the current president faces in having such a high-profile, high-octane frenemy.

"From far away, she's OK," as Clueless' Cher (Alicia Silverstone) famously explains of her frenemy, Amber.

I don't really count going to 1Oak as being a socialite," sniffs a woman who refers to Snowdon-Jones as her "frenemy.

Gwyneth had a frenemy once and was troubled at the joy she felt when this person suffered a terrible public humiliation.

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