adversary
One against you
An adversary is an opponent or enemy—someone who stands against you in conflict, competition, or dispute.
The word carries more weight than opponent, suggesting genuine opposition rather than mere competition: The two lawyers were longtime adversaries.
In religious contexts, the Adversary (capitalized) refers to Satan.
Persistent source of ruin
- villainWicked story antagonist
- archenemyPrincipal antagonist
- enemyHostile opposing party
- foeHostile opponent
rival · opponent · betrayer · traitor · saboteur · aggressor · assailant · attacker
One striving against others
- contenderOne competing seriously
- rivalOne who competes against
- opponentOne who contends against
- challengerOne competing against incumbent
contestant · sparring partner · archrival · peer · match · equal · counterpart · opposite number
One who contends against
- competitorOne striving against others
- challengerOne competing against incumbent
- contenderOne competing seriously
- rivalOne who competes against
visiting team · defending champion · seed · underdog · favorite · matchup · face-off · bout
Hostile opposing party
- foeHostile opponent
- combatantOne who fights
- belligerentHostile and eager to clash
- aggressorOne who initiates conflict
invader · opposition · resistance · insurgent · raider · occupier · defender · militia
Party in lawsuit
- defendantParty facing charges
- plaintiffCivil case initiator
- respondentOne who gives answers
- claimantOne asserting entitlement
prosecutor · accuser · petitioner · appellee · appellant · cross-examiner · co-defendant
One who contends against
- challengerOne competing against incumbent
- debaterOne who argues positions
- disputantOne who argues
- dissenterOpponent of orthodoxy
objector · contrarian · interlocutor · critic · skeptic · questioner · rebuttal · counterargument
nemesis
Persistent source of ruin
foe · rival · opponent · betrayer · traitor · saboteur · aggressor · assailant · attacker · invader
competitor
One striving against others
challenger · contestant · sparring partner · archrival · peer · match · equal · counterpart · opposite number · duelist
opponent
One who contends against
- competitorOne striving against others
- challengerOne competing against incumbent
- contenderOne competing seriously
rival · visiting team · defending champion · seed · underdog · favorite · matchup · face-off · bout · duel
enemy
Hostile opposing party
- foeHostile opponent
- combatantOne who fights
- belligerentHostile and eager to clash
aggressor · invader · opposition · resistance · insurgent · raider · occupier · defender · militia · guerrilla
litigant
Party in lawsuit
- defendantParty facing charges
- plaintiffCivil case initiator
- respondentOne who gives answers
claimant · prosecutor · accuser · petitioner · appellee · appellant · cross-examiner · co-defendant
opponent
One who contends against
- challengerOne competing against incumbent
- debaterOne who argues positions
- disputantOne who argues
dissenter · objector · contrarian · interlocutor · critic · skeptic · questioner · rebuttal · counterargument · opposition
- rivalriesenemy, nemesis, derby, opponent, competitor
- conflictclash, fight, war, battle, dispute
- challengersunderdog, rival, contender, opponent, competitor
- competitorscompetitor, contestant, competitors, rivals, opponents
- enemiesenemy, foe, foes, nemesis, rival
- rivalsrival, opponent, competitor, foe, enemy