enemy

enemy — noun

1. a person who dislikes you and wants to cause problems for you or stop you from a

1.nounA2
Definition

a person who dislikes you and wants to cause problems for you or stop you from achieving what you want

Example

Emre made an enemy of his neighbour when he complained about the noise.

make an enemy of [someone] — to cause someone to become hostile toward you

The two journalists were once close friends, but now they are bitter enemies.

bitter enemy — describes strong, lasting personal hostility

Common collocations
  • make an enemy of
  • bitter enemy
  • sworn enemy
  • personal enemy
  • common enemy
  • turn someone into an enemy
Synonyms
  • foe

    more literary or formal; common in poetry and historical writing

  • adversary

    suggests active opposition in a contest or conflict, often with less emotional charge

  • antagonist

    mainly used in literature for the character who opposes the hero

  • opponent

    the most neutral term; someone you compete against in sports, debates, or elections

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

make an enemy of [someone]

bitter/sworn enemy

[possessive] + enemy

Usage Note

Commonly paired with verbs like 'make', 'create', or 'turn into' to describe the formation of hostile relationships. The noun can refer to one person or to a group.

Common Mistakes

I do not like my classmate, so he is my enemy.
That classmate has spread rumours about me, so I now see him as my enemy.
Enemy implies active hostility or harm, not simply dislike.

2. the nation, army, or group of soldiers that your side is fighting against in a w

2.nounB1
Definition

the nation, army, or group of soldiers that your side is fighting against in a war

Example

The enemy launched a surprise attack on the town before dawn.

launch an attack — a frequent military collocation with 'enemy' as subject

Joshua's unit captured three enemy soldiers who had been hiding in an old farmhouse.

enemy soldiers — individual members of the opposing military force

Common collocations
  • enemy forces
  • enemy territory
  • enemy lines
  • enemy aircraft
  • enemy fire
  • enemy soldier
Synonyms
  • foe

    a formal or dated alternative, common in military and historical writing

  • adversary

    emphasises active opposition in a conflict, often used in formal military analysis

  • opposing force

    a descriptive term used in military planning and reports

Antonyms
  • ally

    a country that fights on the same side

Grammar Patterns

the enemy + singular/plural verb

enemy + noun (modifier)

Usage Note

When referring to the opposing side as a collective unit, 'the enemy' can take either a singular or plural verb ('the enemy is advancing' / 'the enemy are retreating'). Often used as a modifier in compounds such as 'enemy territory', 'enemy lines', or 'enemy fire'.

Common Mistakes

The enemy country attacked us without warning.
Enemy forces launched an attack without warning.
When the military context is clear, 'enemy' alone (as a noun modifier) is preferred over 'enemy country'.

3. a thing or situation that damages something or keeps it from developing or worki

3.nounB1
Definition

a thing or situation that damages something or keeps it from developing or working well — for example, when people call stress the enemy of good health

Example

Stress is the enemy of good health and peaceful sleep.

the enemy of [something] — figurative pattern describing something that causes harm

Pollution is a silent enemy that slowly damages the air we breathe.

Common collocations
  • the enemy of
  • be an enemy to
  • [noun] is the enemy of [noun]
Synonyms
  • threat

    emphasises potential future harm rather than active damage

  • danger

    a more general word for something that can cause harm

  • adversary

    a formal alternative that can also be used figuratively

Antonyms
  • friend

    in figurative use: 'sleep is a friend of good health'

  • ally

    something that helps rather than harms

Grammar Patterns

the enemy of [something]

be an enemy to [something]

Usage Note

Always a figurative or metaphorical usage — the subject is a condition, quality, or thing, never a person. The patterns 'the enemy of [X]' and 'an enemy to [X]' are both common.

Common Mistakes

Sugar is my enemy because I want to be thin.
Sugar is the enemy of any healthy diet.
This figurative sense describes a general truth about what causes harm, not a personal preference.
Idioms

be your own worst enemy

idiom

to cause problems for yourself through your own actions, habits, or decisions, without needing anyone else to act against you

Eitan keeps arriving late to every meeting and missing important discussions — he is his own worst enemy.

Eliska spends all her money the day she gets paid and never saves anything — she is her own worst enemy.

Word family

  • enmity
    nounC1
  • inimical
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Foe is a more literary or formal synonym, common in poetry and historical writing — you would read about 'friend and foe' in a novel, but rarely use it in everyday conversation. Adversary suggests active opposition in a conflict, competition, or legal dispute, with less emotional weight than enemy. Antagonist is almost entirely a literary term for the character who opposes the protagonist in a story, or a technical term in anatomy for a muscle that acts in opposition. Opponent is the most neutral and widely used word, suitable for sports, debates, elections, or business — an opponent is someone you compete against, but may still be respected. In everyday speech: 'On the tennis court, Chen Lei is a tough opponent, but off the court we eat lunch together.' Reserve enemy for situations involving real hostility or harm.

foeadversaryantagonistopponent ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • make an enemy of
  • turn someone into an enemy
  • sworn enemy
  • common enemy
  • the enemy of

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

The word comes from Latin inimicus, which literally means 'not a friend' — formed from in- 'not' and amicus 'friend' (related to amare 'to love'). It passed into English through Old French enemi (modern French ennemi). The sense of a personal foe appeared earliest in English, followed by the military meaning and later the figurative extension to things that cause harm.