foe
One who opposes
A foe is an enemy or adversary.
The word is literary and somewhat old-fashioned in everyday speech, though it remains common in certain phrases: friend or foe, a foe of tyranny.
Foe applies to personal rivals, military opponents, or abstract adversaries: Procrastination is the foe of productivity.
Persistent source of ruin
- opponentOne who contends against
- rivalOne who competes against
- antagonistOne who opposes another
- enemyHostile opposing party
challenger · contender · combatant · opposer · archenemy · archrival · bane · counterpart
Hostile opposing party
- invaderOne who enters aggressively
- aggressorOne who initiates conflict
- combatantOne who fights
- belligerentHostile and eager to clash
insurgent · raider · assailant · hostile · occupier · opposing force · enemy combatant · enemy lines
Armed military engagement
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
- combatArmed hostile engagement
- struggleLabored effort against resistance
- fightPhysical or verbal conflict
confrontation · war · skirmish · showdown · standoff · duel · contest · engagement
Active, bitter hostility
- enmityBitter, lasting ill will
- hatredIntense hostile aversion
- ill-willHostile or unkind feeling
- maliceIntent to cause harm
resentment · spite · hostility · bitterness · grudge · antipathy · acrimony · venom
nemesis
Persistent source of ruin
- opponentOne who contends against
- rivalOne who competes against
- antagonistOne who opposes another
enemy · challenger · contender · combatant · opposer · archenemy · archrival · bane · counterpart · sparring partner
enemy
Hostile opposing party
belligerent · insurgent · raider · assailant · hostile · occupier · opposing force · enemy combatant · enemy lines · hostile territory
battle
Armed military engagement
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
- combatArmed hostile engagement
- struggleLabored effort against resistance
fight · confrontation · war · skirmish · showdown · standoff · duel · contest · engagement · warfare
animosity
Active, bitter hostility
malice · resentment · spite · hostility · bitterness · grudge · antipathy · acrimony · venom · malevolence
menace
Source of potential harm
risk · intimidation · jeopardy · vulnerability · imminent threat
foefriend
Non-kin mutual bond
ally · comrade · partner · confederate · collaborator
foebenefactor
One who gives aid
well-wisher · sympathizer · patron · guardian · protector
- friend or foeChallenge to identify allegiance
- friend and foePeople supporting and opposing
- old foes