Meaning & use
adversary
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Meanings
nouncountableformal
A person, team or country that is against you in a contest, dispute or struggle.
Grammar: Takes a plural: political adversaries; often with a possessive: his old adversary.
Patterns
- an adversary of someone
- someone's adversary
The two chess masters had been adversaries for twenty years.
The senator's chief adversary in the debate was a former ally.
In court, each lawyer treats the other as an adversary.
nouncountableformal
An enemy in a fight or war, especially a country or group considered a threat.
Grammar: Often used for states and armies: a military adversary.
Patterns
- a military adversary
- face an adversary
The treaty was signed by two former adversaries.
The army underestimated its adversary in the mountains.
Analysts compared the strengths of each adversary.
Word forms
| plural | adversaries |
|---|
Common combinations
- a formidable adversary
- The champion proved a formidable adversary.
- face an adversary
- He had to face an old adversary in the final round.
- political adversary
- She shook hands with her political adversary after the vote.
- worthy adversary
- The chess player respected his worthy adversary.
- defeat an adversary
- The company hoped to defeat its adversary in court.
Synonyms and how they differ
- opponent
- Opponent is the everyday word for the other side in a game or debate, while adversary sounds more serious and lasting.
- enemy
- Enemy suggests hatred or danger, while an adversary may simply be on the other side of a contest.
- rival
- A rival competes for the same goal, whereas an adversary may simply oppose you.
- foe
- Foe is a literary, dramatic word for an enemy, while adversary is more formal and neutral.
Opposites
Word family
- adversarial adjective
- involving opposition or conflict between two sides
- adversity noun
- a difficult or unlucky situation
- adverse adjective
- harmful or unfavorable
Commonly confused: adversary or advisory? adversary or adversity?
adversary vs advisory
Advisory means giving advice or warnings, and has nothing to do with opposition.
adversary vs adversity
Adversity is hardship or bad luck, not a person who opposes you.
Practice
The two countries were bitter ___ for decades before the peace talks.
Choose one answer.
Adversaries means opposing parties. Allies is the opposite, and advisers and adversities do not fit the sense of conflict between countries.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “adversary”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.