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. 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

Trump won the election despite being a convicted felon with multiple criminal cases pending against him, and after having promised to use the Justice Department to turn the tables and go after his political foes.

From Los Angeles Times

At campaign rallies and social media posts, Trump threatened to go after his political foes if he returned to the White House.

From Los Angeles Times

A candidate who spoke of using the military against political foes and called for the summary execution of his critics will again be commander-in-chief.

From Los Angeles Times

They want Trump to be awful — precisely because the people they view as their political foes will be so appalled if he wins.

From Salon

The Scots were dominant and deserving of their 4-0 victory at Easter Road, where they will return next month to face old foes Finland in their Euro 2025 play-off final first leg.

From BBC

Related Words

• adversary
• antagonist
• enemy
• rival