enemy
a person who feels hatred for, fosters harmful designs against, or engages in antagonistic activities against another; an adversary or opponent.
an armed foe; an opposing military force: The army attacked the enemy at dawn.
a hostile nation or state.
a citizen of such a state.
enemies, persons, nations, etc., that are hostile to one another: Let's make up and stop being enemies.
something harmful or prejudicial: His unbridled ambition is his worst enemy.
the Enemy, the Devil; Satan.
belonging to a hostile power or to any of its nationals: enemy property.
Obsolete. inimical; ill-disposed.
Origin of enemy
1synonym study For enemy
Grammar notes for enemy
Other words for enemy
Opposites for enemy
Other words from enemy
- non·en·e·my, noun, plural non·en·e·mies.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use enemy in a sentence
The more we appease, the more we indulge, the more emboldened the enemies of freedom become.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali: Our Duty Is to Keep Charlie Hebdo Alive | Ayaan Hirsi Ali | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTIn the past, Fidel Castro and his brother Raul were considered permanent enemies of Washington.
A year ago at a public meeting Kadyrov accused the NGO and its JMG lawyers of being “enemies of the Chechen people.”
Putin’s Favorite Acolyte Terrorizes Human Rights Activists | Anna Nemtsova | December 14, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTMuch of it to the Chinese and to people who are actually our enemies.
Trump Is ‘Thinking About’ a Run at the White House Again | Olivia Nuzzi | December 2, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTNo commander is ever completely satisfied with the amount of information he has on his enemies.
Only in the carnage of the head, the tilt of the chin, was the insolence expressed that had made her many enemies.
Ancestors | Gertrude AthertonHis enemies persistently insinuated that he was really returning to Spain to support the clericals actively.
The Philippine Islands | John ForemanLike every other Spanish general in supreme command abroad, Polavieja had his enemies in Spain.
The Philippine Islands | John ForemanThe young man from far away had not, so far as he knew, either enemies or friends at Monte Carlo.
Rosemary in Search of a Father | C. N. WilliamsonThe dog stood with hanging head and tail, as if ashamed he had let so many of his enemies get away unharmed.
The Courier of the Ozarks | Byron A. Dunn
British Dictionary definitions for enemy
/ (ˈɛnəmɪ) /
a person hostile or opposed to a policy, cause, person, or group, esp one who actively tries to do damage; opponent
an armed adversary; opposing military force
(as modifier): enemy aircraft
a hostile nation or people
(as modifier): an enemy alien
something that harms or opposes; adversary: courage is the enemy of failure
Origin of enemy
1Other words from enemy
- Related adjective: inimical
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
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