1
as in enemies
one that is hostile toward another
are you friend or foe?
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2
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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Recent Examples of foes
The Padres will be familiar postseason foes.
—
Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2024
An all-out war between arch-foes Israel and Iran has been threatened for decades.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 2 Oct. 2024
For over a decade, Drain Gang have tormented their fans and foes by embodying all the contradictions an existential Swedish rap boy band should.
—Pitchfork, 1 Oct. 2024
What’s unfolded is some of the fiercest fighting between the two longtime foes since the 2006 Lebanon war, which killed 1,100 in the country.
—Helen Regan, CNN, 1 Oct. 2024
Where would-be foes are tempted to advance, allies will feel anxious, with some choosing to defer to a powerful neighbor and others choosing to take matters into their own hands by accumulating or using military force.
—Richard Haass, Foreign Affairs, 5 June 2020
The danger is that foes will see a United States weakened and distracted and move to take advantage.
—Richard Haass, Foreign Affairs, 5 June 2020
Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2024
An all-out war between arch-foes Israel and Iran has been threatened for decades.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 2 Oct. 2024
For over a decade, Drain Gang have tormented their fans and foes by embodying all the contradictions an existential Swedish rap boy band should.
—Pitchfork, 1 Oct. 2024
What’s unfolded is some of the fiercest fighting between the two longtime foes since the 2006 Lebanon war, which killed 1,100 in the country.
—Helen Regan, CNN, 1 Oct. 2024
Where would-be foes are tempted to advance, allies will feel anxious, with some choosing to defer to a powerful neighbor and others choosing to take matters into their own hands by accumulating or using military force.
—Richard Haass, Foreign Affairs, 5 June 2020
The danger is that foes will see a United States weakened and distracted and move to take advantage.
—Richard Haass, Foreign Affairs, 5 June 2020
Thesaurus Entries Near foes
Cite this Entry
“Foes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foes. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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