enemy
n. countablen. a person or group that hates you or wants to harm you. It is also used to describe a country that is at war with your own country.
n. a person, group, or nation that is actively hostile or opposed to another. Often used collectively to refer to opposing armed forces in a conflict.
The two countries have been enemies for decades.
In the movie, the hero must work with his former enemy to save the city from a greater threat.
Political commentators noted that the candidate's aggressive rhetoric turned potential allies into bitter enemies, ultimately costing him the support of the moderate voters.
From Middle English enemy, enemye, enmy, borrowed from Old French enemi, anemi (Modern French ennemi), from Latin inimīcus, from in- (“not”) + amīcus (“friend”). Displaced Middle English fend (“enemy”), from Old English fēond (“enemy”), which survived into Modern English as fiend, but with a different meaning. Doublet of inimic.
Commonly used with the definite article ('the enemy') to refer to an entire opposing army or force.
- 01
be one's own worst enemy
To act contrary to one's own interests; to cause problems for oneself; to self-sabotage.
- 02
let the perfect be the enemy of the good
To insist on the total realization of a goal and reject any compromise, thereby decreasing the chance of achieving even a part of that goal.
- 03
no plan survives contact with the enemy
After a plan against an enemy is drafted, there will be unexpected elements from the opposition that will call for improvisation.