frenemies
Hostile yet close
Frenemies is the plural of frenemy—a person who acts as a friend but is actually a rival or enemy.
The blend of friend and enemy captures relationships marked by underlying competition, jealousy, or hostility beneath a veneer of friendliness: We were frenemies in high school—always competing for the same things.
The term often describes social dynamics where people maintain cordial appearances despite mutual dislike.
Covert betrayal of trust
- two-facedInsincere and deceptive
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
- gossipInformal talk spreading rumors
- rumorsUnconfirmed circulating stories
secrets · disloyalty · scheming · plotting · sabotage · fake · phony · insincere
Those seeking same goal
- opponentsThose who compete against
- adversariesThose who oppose you
- nemesisPersistent source of ruin
- contestOrganized competitive event
one-upmanship · jealousy · envy · comparison · status · undermining · passive-aggressive · backhanded
Simultaneous attraction and aversion
- conflictedEmotionally at odds
- complicatedDifficult to understand
- bittersweetWistful yet warm
- tornPulled into pieces
hot-cold · unpredictable · confusing · exhausting · draining · toxic · boundaries · distance
Deceptive outward show
- surface-levelConcerning only the outermost layer
- appearancesOutward visible aspects
- cordialWarmly friendly manner
- civilMinimally polite
coexistence · tolerance · networking · awkward · uncomfortable
Record of past events
- familiarityKnowledge through experience
- entanglementState of being intertwined
- codependencyExcessive emotional reliance on another
- attachmentConnection or fondness
understanding · chemistry · connection · respect · admiration · fondness · nostalgia · unresolved
backstabbing
Covert betrayal of trust
- two-facedInsincere and deceptive
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
- gossipInformal talk spreading rumors
rumors · secrets · disloyalty · scheming · plotting · sabotage · fake · phony · insincere · duplicitous
competitors
Those seeking same goal
- opponentsThose who compete against
- adversariesThose who oppose you
- nemesisPersistent source of ruin
contest · one-upmanship · jealousy · envy · comparison · status · undermining · passive-aggressive · backhanded · shade
love-hate
Simultaneous attraction and aversion
- conflictedEmotionally at odds
- complicatedDifficult to understand
- bittersweetWistful yet warm
torn · hot-cold · unpredictable · confusing · exhausting · draining · toxic · boundaries · distance · guarded
pretense
Deceptive outward show
- surface-levelConcerning only the outermost layer
- appearancesOutward visible aspects
- cordialWarmly friendly manner
civil · coexistence · tolerance · networking · awkward · uncomfortable
history
Record of past events
- familiarityKnowledge through experience
- entanglementState of being intertwined
- codependencyExcessive emotional reliance on another
attachment · understanding · chemistry · connection · respect · admiration · fondness · nostalgia · unresolved
- social tiespals, buddies, mates, companions, chums
- Teen FriendshipsBFFs, cliques, trust, loyalty, gossip
- story bondslove story, love triangle, forbidden love, soulmates, rivals
- high schoolhigh school, teachers, classroom, classrooms, principal
- relationshipsromantic, family, flirting, closeness, romance
- adolescencepuberty, teenager, coming-of-age, growing up, teen
frenemiesbest friends
Closest mutual companions
besties · confidants · bosom buddies · kindred spirits · soulmates
frenemiessworn enemies
Adversaries committed to opposition
archenemies · best friends · nemeses · BFFs
friend, friendly, enemy, friendship, unfriendly, friends, friendliness, enemies, befriend