enemies

NOUN

someone hated or competed against

Synonyms

STRONGEST

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

STRONG

assailant assassin backbiter betrayer contender defamer defiler disputant emulator falsifier informer inquisitor revolutionary saboteur slanderer traducer vilifier

WEAK

archenemy asperser bad person calumniator fifth column other side seditionist

Antonyms

STRONGEST

ally associate friend helper law police supporter

WEAK

aide assistant confidante

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

At a banquet in the Great Hall of the People, Nixon declared "there is no reason for us to be enemies".

From Barron's • May 15, 2026

Now Trump strikes a more peaceful tone aimed at turning former enemies into friends.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 10, 2026

It was Venezuela’s unprecedented outreach in 1949 that made the Middle East exporters think of themselves as partners instead of rivals, bringing even historic enemies Iran and Saudi Arabia together.

From Barron's • May 7, 2026

But he added that those two camps, once enemies during the American Revolution, “surely would be delighted that the wounds of war healed into the most cherished friendship.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

In the past, Piper had had a lot of trouble making her charms work, because she always ordered her enemies to do what she wanted.

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan