enemy
Sworn opposing party
An enemy is someone who opposes, threatens, or seeks to harm you.
The term applies to personal adversaries, military opponents, or hostile nations: They were childhood friends who became bitter enemies.
Enemy extends to abstract threats: Sugar is the enemy of good health.
As an adjective, enemy describes hostile forces: enemy territory, enemy fire.
The enemy can refer collectively to opposing forces in conflict.
Hostile opponent
- opponentOne who contends against
- antagonistOne who opposes another
- rivalOne who competes against
- nemesisPersistent source of ruin
combatant · contender · challenger · opposer · detractor · aggressor · assailant · invader
Active, bitter hostility
- hatredIntense hostile aversion
- maliceIntent to cause harm
- antipathyIngrained, intense aversion
- ill willHostile or unfriendly feeling
antagonism · aggression · belligerence · rancor · spite · vendetta · grudge · bad blood
Armed conflict between groups
- battleArmed military engagement
- combatArmed hostile engagement
- confrontationDirect hostile encounter
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
strife · struggle · fight · skirmish · hostilities · attack · assault · siege
Exposure to harm
- menaceSource of potential harm
- perilSerious threat of harm
- hazardSource of potential harm
- riskPossibility of harm
jeopardy · vulnerability · intimidation · warning · alarm · crisis · terror · dread
Capacity to withstand force
- defianceOpen resistance to authority
- dissentDisagreement with authority
- rebellionDefiance of established power
- revoltOrganized resistance to power
insurgency · subversion · counterforce · obstruction · interference · hindrance · impediment · barrier
foe
Hostile opponent
- opponentOne who contends against
- antagonistOne who opposes another
- rivalOne who competes against
nemesis · combatant · contender · challenger · opposer · detractor · aggressor · assailant · invader · attacker
animosity
Active, bitter hostility
ill will · antagonism · aggression · belligerence · rancor · spite · vendetta · grudge · bad blood · bitterness
warfare
Armed conflict between groups
- battleArmed military engagement
- combatArmed hostile engagement
- confrontationDirect hostile encounter
clash · strife · struggle · fight · skirmish · hostilities · attack · assault · siege · invasion
danger
Exposure to harm
risk · jeopardy · vulnerability · intimidation · warning · alarm · crisis · terror · dread · insecurity
resistance
Capacity to withstand force
- defianceOpen resistance to authority
- dissentDisagreement with authority
- rebellionDefiance of established power
revolt · insurgency · subversion · counterforce · obstruction · interference · hindrance · impediment · barrier · blockade
enemyfriend
Non-kin mutual bond
ally · supporter · well-wisher · benefactor · helper
enemyally
Supportive partner
coalition partner · brother-in-arms · friendlies · allied forces · reinforcements
- worst enemyUltimate personal adversary
- worst enemiesMost despised opponents
- is one's own worst enemyHarms oneself most
- mortal enemyLethal sworn adversary
- public enemyWidely known criminal threat
- sworn enemyVowed lifelong adversary