Noun
Many considered him a foe of democracy.
Her ability was acknowledged by friend and foe alike.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Santa Fe Christian is a Division 2 team, a division that also includes Point Loma, Bonita Vista, Madison and league foe Marantha Christian, a team the Eagles play in a three-game series next week.—John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Apr. 2024 For the moment, the only countervailing force is the desire of both the United States and its longtime foe Iran to avoid a widening of the conflict, said Joost Hiltermann, the International Crisis Group's program director for the Middle East and North Africa.—Vivian Nereim, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2024 Perhaps the most serious response would be if Israel attempted to destroy Iran's nuclear infrastructure, long a source of friction between the two foes.—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 14 Apr. 2024 Those warnings came as Western nations urged Israel to descend from the brink of open warfare with its foe.—Rob Picheta, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024 Recommended The two foes have for years been engaged in a shadow war marked by attacks such as the Damascus strike.—Tia Goldenberg, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Apr. 2024 Ashleigh Murray is great as Hazel, the colleague who starts as friend but becomes foe, and Daniel plays Nella’s awakening to the truth about her cohort with a sincerity that humanizes the series’ most bonkers twist.—Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 13 Apr. 2024 Paul Mescal to Play Young William Shakespeare in New Film from Oscar-Winning Nomadland Director
Wearing Roman warrior garb, Mescal takes on a menagerie of foes in various grand arenas.—Jack Smart, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024 Television Best foes, best friends: Richard Lewis, Larry David and the love between them
Feb. 28, 2024
There’s also a whole bit in the courtroom of David swatting at a fly as his attorney attempts to lionize him.—Whitney Friedlander, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'foe.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English fo, from Old English fāh, from fāh, adjective, hostile; akin to Old High German gifēh hostile
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of foe was
before the 12th century
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