FOES Synonyms: 58 Similar and Opposite Words

foes

noun

plural of foe

as in enemies

one that is hostile toward another are you friend or foe?

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as in opponents

one that takes a position opposite another in a competition or conflict this Saturday our team will go up against our longtime foes in a game that will determine the champion of the conference

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of foes Over the course of the 95-minute run time, Cole will also deploy knives, a fire ax, a fishing spear, various firearms, and his very capable fists to take out foes, but the lock marks a high point in terms of situation-specific ingenuity. — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 21 Aug. 2026 The preseason pollsters like Big Ten foes Ohio State and Oregon better. — Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026 The raucous home environment at Doak on a Monday night is often tough for road foes to overcome. — Andre C. Fernandez, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2026 Rosie O'Donnell has returned to television to savagely roast one of her biggest foes. — Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026 His political foes described the move as a stunt and opted against standing a candidate. — ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026 The good guys protecting us from people who want to work and live here will continue their morally upright quest by electrocuting their foes into submission. — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 12 Aug. 2026 With the confirmation battle behind him, Blanche now faces the challenge of having to navigate the demands of a president who has made no secret his desire to use the law enforcement agency to target his political foes. — Alanna Durkin Richer, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026 Two historic Eastern Conference foes tipping off a new season, with the presumption of a marquee matchup to follow the same evening, would be a standard move for the league. — Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for foes

Noun

Old enemies, bad habits, a paranoid government and an unrelenting ex-cop will make retirement their most difficult mission yet.

— Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2026
It is tasked both with combating enemies abroad and stamping out protests at home.

— Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of enemies

Noun

Her decision to run in the district drew criticism from her four Black opponents and other Black Democrats who have already been impacted by Republican redistricting efforts in southern states.

— Hannah Demissie, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
The group included 13 Republicans and three Democrats, while several incumbents without general election opponents secured their return to the House.

— Sergio Candido, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of opponents

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foe

foes

fog

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“Foes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foes. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of foes

noun

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