foe

1 of 2

noun

ˈfō How to pronounce foe (audio)
Synonyms of foe
1
: one who has personal enmity for another
Embrace, embrace, my Sons! be foes no more!—Alexander Pope
2
a
: an enemy in war
b
: adversary, opponent
a political foe
3
: one who opposes on principle
a foe of needless expenditures
a foe of censorship
4
: something prejudicial or injurious
a foe to health

FOE

2 of 2

abbreviation

Fraternal Order of Eagles

Synonyms of foe

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Noun

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Examples of foe in a Sentence

Noun Many considered him a foe of democracy. Her ability was acknowledged by friend and foe alike.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The backup looked functional, if not better, in his lone start against a top-10 foe, but the sample size remains small. — Noah White, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2026 The team totaled 463 yards against the Cougars, its most against a conference foe since amassing 578 yards against the Mountaineers. — Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Oct. 2026 Quarterback Malik Willis threw for two touchdowns and run for a score to help lead the Dolphins over their AFC East foe, while Miami showed some clear spirit on the road post-bye week. — Scott Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026 Assassination attempts against Putin's foes -- routinely denied by the Kremlin -- have been common during his decades in power. — Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for foe

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

Phrases Containing foe

Rhymes for foe

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Browse Nearby Words

fodient
foe
FOE
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Cite this Entry

“Foe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foe. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

foe

noun
ˈfō How to pronounce foe (audio)
1
: one who hates another
2
: an enemy in war
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