plural enemies
1
: one that is antagonistic to another
especially
: one seeking to injure, overthrow, or confound an opponent
2
: something harmful or deadly
alcohol was his greatest enemy
3
a
: a military adversary
b
: a hostile unit or force
Examples of enemy in a Sentence
He made a lot of enemies during the course of his career.
Tradition is the enemy of progress.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Jayhawks made timely shots, but the Horned Frogs were their own worst enemies with critical mistakes down the stretch.
—
Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Jan. 2026
Hashmi’s team are duly assembled – with cuts showing the team physically fighting their enemies in and around the airport.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026
These are the people the Administration believes deserve entry into the country; most anyone else, apparently, is deemed an enemy of the state.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2026
But under the Maduro regime many enemies of the United States, including Russians, Iranians, and even members of Hezbollah, find haven in the country.
—Agustina Vergara Cid, Oc Register, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for enemy
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Cite this Entry
“Enemy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enemy. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Kids Definition
enemy
noun
en·e·my
ˈen-ə-mē 
plural enemies
1
: one that tries to hurt or overthrow or that seeks the failure of another
2
: something that harms
3
a
: a nation with which a country is at war
b
: a military force or a person belonging to such a nation
Etymology
Middle English enemi "enemy," from early French enemi (same meaning), from Latin inimicus (same meaning), from in- "not" and amicus "friend"
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