enemy

American  

[en-uh-mee] / ˈɛn ə mi /

noun

plural

enemies

1. a person who feels hatred for, fosters harmful designs against, or engages in antagonistic activities against another; an adversary or opponent.

   Synonyms:

   antagonist

   Antonyms:

   friend

2. an armed foe; an opposing military force.

   The army attacked the enemy at dawn.

   Antonyms:

   ally

3. a hostile nation or state.

4. a citizen of such a state.

5. enemies, persons, nations, etc., that are hostile to one another.

   Let's make up and stop being enemies.

6. something harmful or prejudicial.

   His unbridled ambition is his worst enemy.

7. the Enemy, the Devil; Satan.

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adjective

1. belonging to a hostile power or to any of its nationals.

   enemy property.

2. Obsolete. inimical; ill-disposed.

enemy British  

/ ˈɛnəmɪ /

noun

1. a person hostile or opposed to a policy, cause, person, or group, esp one who actively tries to do damage; opponent

2. 1. an armed adversary; opposing military force

   2. ( as modifier )

      enemy aircraft

3. 1. a hostile nation or people

   2. ( as modifier )

      an enemy alien

4. something that harms or opposes; adversary

   courage is the enemy of failure

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Grammar

See collective noun.

Related Words

Enemy, foe refer to a dangerous public or personal adversary. Enemy emphasizes the idea of hostility: to overcome the enemy; a bitter enemy. Foe, a more literary word, may be used interchangeably with enemy, but emphasizes somewhat more the danger to be feared from such a one: deadly foe; arch foe of humankind ( the Devil ).

Other Word Forms

• nonenemy noun

Etymology

Origin of enemy

First recorded in 1300–1350; Middle English enemi, from Anglo-French, Old French, from Latin inimicus “unfriendly,” equivalent to in- in- ³ + amicus “friendly, friend”; amicable

Example Sentences

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the Islamic republic had the "necessary will" to end the war, provided its enemies guaranteed it would not flare up again.

From Barron's

The few exceptions included children of foreign diplomats, enemies during “hostile occupation,” and Native American tribal nations.

From The Wall Street Journal

Decades later, America’s enemies feared not only its soldiers but its industrial strength.

From The Wall Street Journal

Sydney remained adamant that England had fought the wrong enemy, and she and David took up separate residences.

From The Wall Street Journal

Electronic-warfare teams, which jam enemy communications, have come ashore—and are growing.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• adversary
• agent
• antagonist
• attacker
• bandit
• competitor
• criminal
• detractor
• foe
• guerrilla
• invader
• murderer
• opponent
• opposition
• prosecutor
• rebel
• rival
• spy
• terrorist
• traitor