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
Since then, the Giants have lost five more and been outscored 140-59 by their opponents, while Dallas has won four of five and outscored its foes, 137-111.
—
Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 23 Dec. 2024
On the other side, Nebraska faces off against fellow Big Ten titan Penn State in a clash of familiar foes.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
And though Aardman might implement more digital tools these days, its heroes and foes are still unequivocally human-operated.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2024
The madcap inventor and his loyal dog have faced foes such as a deranged robot, a serial killer who targets bread bakers, and an archnemesis who is that most fearsome of creatures, a penguin.
—Stephen Humphries, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Dec. 2024
Some of those meddlers were foes, like Iran, in post-invasion Iraq, or Russia, in the former Soviet Union.
—David D. Kirkpatrick, The New Yorker, 18 Dec. 2024
Likewise, the inadequate response to Russian sabotage in Europe might encourage other potential foes to get in the game.
—Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 18 Dec. 2024
Glinda and Elphaba become political foes as Elphaba tries to mount a resistance to the Wizard and his oppressive policies.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 17 Dec. 2024
Near the end of the second NBA Cup semifinal game here on Saturday, between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Houston Rockets, a brief scuffle broke out on the court between the two upstart Western Conference foes.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 17 Dec. 2024
Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 23 Dec. 2024
On the other side, Nebraska faces off against fellow Big Ten titan Penn State in a clash of familiar foes.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
And though Aardman might implement more digital tools these days, its heroes and foes are still unequivocally human-operated.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2024
The madcap inventor and his loyal dog have faced foes such as a deranged robot, a serial killer who targets bread bakers, and an archnemesis who is that most fearsome of creatures, a penguin.
—Stephen Humphries, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Dec. 2024
Some of those meddlers were foes, like Iran, in post-invasion Iraq, or Russia, in the former Soviet Union.
—David D. Kirkpatrick, The New Yorker, 18 Dec. 2024
Likewise, the inadequate response to Russian sabotage in Europe might encourage other potential foes to get in the game.
—Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 18 Dec. 2024
Glinda and Elphaba become political foes as Elphaba tries to mount a resistance to the Wizard and his oppressive policies.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 17 Dec. 2024
Near the end of the second NBA Cup semifinal game here on Saturday, between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Houston Rockets, a brief scuffle broke out on the court between the two upstart Western Conference foes.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 17 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Foes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foes. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
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