ENEMY: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for ENEMY?

Need another word that means the same as “enemy”? Find 13 synonyms and 30 related words for “enemy” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Enemy” are: foe, foeman, opposition, adversary, opponent, rival, nemesis, antagonist, combatant, challenger, competitor, opposer, hostile party

Enemy as a Noun

Definitions of "Enemy" as a noun

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “enemy” as a noun can have the following definitions:

• A personal enemy.
• An armed adversary (especially a member of an opposing military force.
• A person who is actively opposed or hostile to someone or something.
• Any hostile group of people.
• A hostile nation or its armed forces, especially in time of war.
• A thing that harms or weakens something else.
• An opposing military force.

Synonyms of "Enemy" as a noun (13 Words)

adversary	Someone who offers opposition. Davis beat his old adversary in the quarter finals.
antagonist	A muscle that relaxes while another contracts. He turned to confront his antagonist.
challenger	A person who disputes the truth of or places themselves in opposition to something. A potential challenger for the party leadership.
combatant	A person engaged in conflict or competition with another. A long time combatant for the control of Newcastle FC.
competitor	An organization or country engaged in commercial or economic competition with others. Our main industrial competitors.
foe	A personal enemy. His work was praised by friends and foes alike.
foeman	An armed adversary (especially a member of an opposing military force.
hostile party	Troops belonging to the enemy’s military forces.
nemesis	The inescapable agent of someone’s or something’s downfall. One risks nemesis by uttering such words.
opponent	A person who disagrees with or resists a proposal or practice. The news will delight opponents of GM foods.
opposer	Someone who offers opposition.
opposition	The action of opposing something that you disapprove or disagree with. The invaders encountered stiff opposition.
rival	A person or thing competing with another for the same objective or for superiority in the same field of activity. Gun battles between rival gangs.

Usage Examples of "Enemy" as a noun

• The enemy shot down four helicopters.
• The traditional enemies of his tribe.
• He viewed lawyers as the real enemy.
• Nigel made many enemies.
• Routine is the enemy of art.
• The enemy attacked at dawn.
• Enemy aircraft.
• This man was her sworn enemy.

Associations of "Enemy" (30 Words)

adversary	Someone who offers opposition. Davis beat his old adversary in the quarter finals.
antagonist	A person who actively opposes or is hostile to someone or something; an adversary. He turned to confront his antagonist.
avenge	Take revenge for a perceived wrong. He vowed in silent fervour to avenge their murders.
challenger	The contestant you hope to defeat. A serious challenger for the title.
compete	Compete for something engage in a contest measure oneself against others. He competed with a number of other candidates.
competitor	The contestant you hope to defeat. Two competitors were banned for taking drugs.
contender	The contestant you hope to defeat. A presidential contender.
crossfire	Fire from two or more points so that the lines of fire cross. The sponsors are caught in the crossfire of the battle between the world champion and his team boss.
dissent	The act of protesting a public often organized manifestation of dissent. He expressed his dissent in a contrary opinion.
dissident	A person who dissents from some established policy. A dissident who had been jailed by a military regime.
foe	An armed adversary (especially a member of an opposing military force. They had been political foes for years.
hostile	Showing or feeling opposition or dislike; unfriendly. The brewery fought off a hostile takeover bid last year.
nemesis	Retributive justice. Will Harry Potter finally defeat his nemesis Voldemort.
objector	A person who dissents from some established policy. Objectors claim the motorway will damage the environment.
opponent	Someone who competes with or opposes another in a contest, game, or argument. The news will delight opponents of GM foods.
oppose	Set into opposition or rivalry. A majority of the electorate opposed EC membership.
opposed	In conflict with or hostile to. Parties opposed to the ruling party.
opposing	(of two or more subjects) differing from or in conflict with each other. Opponent or opposing armies.
opposition	A body of people united in opposing something. Her Majesty s loyal opposition.
reprisal	The forcible seizure of a foreign subject or their goods as an act of retaliation. The threat of reprisal.
requital	An act of requiting; returning in kind.
retaliate	Make an attack in return for a similar attack. They used their abilities to retaliate the injury.
retribution	The act of correcting for your wrongdoing. The swiftness of divine retribution.
revenge	Inflict revenge on behalf of someone else. It s a pity he chose that way to revenge his sister.
rival	Be the rival of be in competition with. He had respect for his rivals.
spurn	An act of spurning. He spoke gruffly as if afraid that his invitation would be spurned.
vengeance	The act of taking revenge (harming someone in retaliation for something harmful that they have done) especially in the next life. For vengeance I would do nothing This nation is too great to look for mere revenge.
vengeful	Seeking to harm someone in return for a perceived injury. A vengeful ex con.
vie	Compete eagerly with someone in order to do or achieve something. The athletes were vying for a place in the British team.
vindictive	Disposed to seek revenge or intended for revenge. More vindictive than jealous love.