INDEX:
1. someone you are fighting against, especially in a war
2. someone who hates you and wants to harm you
RELATED WORDS
opposite
↑ FRIEND
someone who opposes something : ↑ AGAINST/OPPOSE
someone who is trying to beat you in a game or sport : ↑ PLAY A GAME OR SPORT
a person or organization that is competing against you : ↑ COMPETE WITH
see also
↑ HATE
↑ UNFRIENDLY
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1. someone you are fighting against, especially in a war
▷ enemy /ˈenəmi/ [countable noun]
someone you are fighting against, especially in a war :
▪ You cannot attack an enemy unless you have precise information about their numbers and position.
the enemy
the army or country that your army or country is fighting against in a war
▪ They accused him of giving secret information to the enemy.
common enemy
an enemy you share with another person, country etc
▪ Britain and France decided to unite and fight against their common enemy.
enemy/aircraft/soldiers/tanks etc
▪ One man was ordered to observe enemy aircraft and to warn when danger was imminent.
▷ foe /fəʊ/ [countable noun] formal or written
a person or country that wants to attack and defeat you or your country :
▪ Mitterrand drew France closer to the European union and to Germany, its former foe.
friend or foe
▪ As we approached the camp a guard called out: ‘Who goes there -- friend or foe?’
▷ adversary /ˈædvəʳs ə riǁ-seri/ [countable noun] formal or written
a country or person that you are fighting against :
▪ The peace talks proved that even great adversaries were capable of cooperation.
▪ Symes grabbed his adversary by the throat and wrestled him to the ground.
▷ hostile /ˈhɒstaɪlǁˈhɑːstl, ˈhɑːstaɪl/ [adjective only before noun]
hostile areas, soldiers etc are those belonging to a country or group that wants to attack and defeat your country, and are therefore dangerous :
▪ Hostile forces have taken control of cities in the north of the country.
▪ The ships had travelled thousands of miles through hostile waters to converge in the Atlantic.
2. someone who hates you and wants to harm you
▷ enemy /ˈenəmi/ [countable noun]
▪ Did your husband have any enemies?
▪ My parents sometimes seem to treat me as if I was their enemy.