Synonyms for adversary
ad·ver·sa·ry

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:1.0 / 1 vote

1. adversary

   An enemy in private life is one who is moved by hostile feeling with active disposition to injure; but in military language all who fight on the opposite side are called enemies or collectively "the enemy," where no personal animosity may be implied; foe, which is rather a poetical and literary word, implies intensely hostile spirit and purpose. An antagonist is one who opposes and is opposed actively and with intensity of effort; an opponent, one in whom the attitude of resistance is the more prominent; a competitor, one who seeks the same object for which another is striving; antagonists in wrestling, competitors in business, opponents in debate may contend with no personal ill will; rivals in love, ambition, etc., rarely avoid inimical feeling. Adversary was formerly much used in the general sense of antagonist or opponent, but is now less common, and largely restricted to the hostile sense; an adversary is ordinarily one who not only opposes another in fact, but does so with hostile spirit, or perhaps out of pure malignity; as, the great Adversary. Compare synonyms for AMBITION.

   Synonyms:
   antagonist, competitor, enemy, foe, opponent, rival

   Antonyms:
   abettor, accessory, accomplice, ally, friend, helper, supporter

   Preposition:
   He was the enemy of my friend in the contest.

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. adversary

   Synonyms:
   antagonist, foe, enemy, rival, assailant

   Antonyms:
   accessory, abettor, alder, friend, helper, assistant, ally, accomplice

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:2.3 / 4 votes

1. adversary, antagonist, opponent, opposer, resisternoun

   someone who offers opposition

   Synonyms:
   obstructionist, opposer, obstructer, obstructor, opposite, antagonist, opposition, opponent, thwarter, resister

Matched Categories

1. • Person

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. adversarynoun

   Synonyms:
   enemy, foe, antagonist, opponent, adverse party

2. adversarynoun

   Synonyms:
   DEVIL, satan

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:1.0 / 1 vote

1. adversarynoun

   Synonyms:
   enemy, foe, antagonist, opponent

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:1.0 / 1 vote

1. List of paraphrases for "adversary":

   opponent, enemy, foe, intruder, rival

Suggested Resources

1. adversary

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How to use adversary in a sentence?

1. State Mike Pompeo on Monday:

   Your adversary must understand not only that you have the capacity to impose cost but that you're in fact willing to do so.

2. Virginie Razzano:

   I would like to surprise my adversary, and sometimes when I feel it's a good time to do that, I prefer to do that.

3. Syed Salahuddin:

   We are at a loss to understand whether they (the Pakistan government) are concerned about the interests of the country that feeds them or that of its enemy? pakistan is not only an advocate but also a party to the longstanding Kashmir dispute and therefore the Pakistani people, government and media should play the role of a patron rather than of an adversary.

4. Seneca:

   Without an adversary prowess shrivels. We see how great and efficient it really is only when it shows by endurance what it is capable of.

5. Rear Adm. Jeff Jablon:

   We used to be known as the silent service during the Cold War, (we) never let anybody know where we were operating, in today’s submarine force, we operate extensively with the rest of the United States services and with our allies. So the adversary knows we can operate in international waters anywhere on the world.