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enemy

[ en-uh-mee ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

plural enemies.

a person who feels hatred for, fosters harmful designs against, or engages in antagonistic activities against another; an adversary or opponent.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
an armed foe; an opposing military force:
The army attacked the enemy at dawn.
Antonyms:
a hostile nation or state.
a citizen of such a state.
enemies, persons, nations, etc., that are hostile to one another:
Let's make up and stop being enemies.
something harmful or prejudicial:
His unbridled ambition is his worst enemy.
the Enemy, the Devil; Satan.

adjective

belonging to a hostile power or to any of its nationals:
enemy property.
Obsolete. inimical; ill-disposed.

enemy

/ ˈɛ��ə��ɪ /

noun

a person hostile or opposed to a policy, cause, person, or group, esp one who actively tries to do damage; opponent
1. an armed adversary; opposing military force
2. ( as modifier )
  enemy aircraft
1. a hostile nation or people
2. ( as modifier )
  an enemy alien
something that harms or opposes; adversary
courage is the enemy of failure

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Grammar Note

See collective noun.

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Other Word Forms

�Դǲ�·���·�� noun plural nonenemies

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Word History and Origins

Origin of enemy¹

First recorded in 1300–1350; Middle English enemi, from Anglo-French, Old French, from Latin inimicus “unfriendly,” equivalent to in- in- ³ + amicus “friendly, friend”; amicable

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Word History and Origins

Origin of enemy¹

C13: from Old French enemi, from Latin ��Ծ��ī��ܲ� hostile, from in- ¹+ ��ī��ܲ� friend

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Synonym Study

Enemy, foe refer to a dangerous public or personal adversary. Enemy emphasizes the idea of hostility: to overcome the enemy; a bitter enemy. Foe, a more literary word, may be used interchangeably with enemy, but emphasizes somewhat more the danger to be feared from such a one: deadly foe; arch foe of humankind ( the Devil ).

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Murkowski, one of few Republican senators to have publicly opposed President Donald Trump, was voicing concern about his administration's wide-ranging effort to seek revenge against a lengthy list of individuals perceived as political enemies.

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While "enemy" is overstating it, Peterson was right, and additionally Carney is also very adept at understanding the nexus between markets and headlines.

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And Trump remains in feverish pursuit of his political enemies, from high-powered figures to campus dissidents, with the Justice Department at his disposal.

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As Trump has ramped up his program of deportations, taken an axe to due process and continually inveighed against his political enemies, the directive to root around for loopholes is cause for concern.

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The Trump Administration doesn’t simply view Black history as the enemy of whiteness, but as the perfect foil to exploit whiteness amongst their base to pick their pockets in order to consolidate power.

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Related Words

enema enemy alien

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