Finesentence mobile logo
Sign in Login / Register

Adversaries: meaning, definitions and examples

⚔️
Add to dictionary

adversaries

 

[ ˈædvərsəriz ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

in conflict

Adversaries are people, groups, or countries that oppose each other and compete in a conflict or battle. They are usually seen as opponents or enemies in a competitive or hostile situation.

Synonyms

competitors, enemies, opponents, rivals.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

arrow down
Word Description / Examples
adversaries

Often used in formal or literary contexts to describe individuals or groups that are in conflict or opposition, especially in long-term struggles.

  • In the court of law, the prosecutor and the defense attorney are adversaries
opponents

Commonly used in sports, politics, or debates to describe those on the opposite side of a contest, argument, or election.

  • In the debate, each candidate tried to outsmart their opponent
enemies

Carries a strong negative connotation and is used when describing individuals or groups with deep-seated hatred or hostility towards each other, often in contexts like war or personal vendettas.

  • During the war, the soldiers faced their enemies on the battlefield
rivals

Often used to describe individuals or organizations that are in competition with similar levels of skill or ability, implying a sense of ongoing competition.

  • The two schools have been rivals in football for decades
competitors

Appropriate for business, sports, or any situation where different entities or individuals are striving for the same goal, prize, or market share.

  • Apple and Samsung are major competitors in the smartphone market

Examples of usage

  • They have been adversaries for years, constantly competing for dominance.
  • The two nations are political adversaries, always at odds with each other.
  • The superhero and the villain are sworn adversaries, constantly battling each other.
  • The chess players were fierce adversaries, each trying to outsmart the other.
  • The business rivals were determined adversaries, fighting for market share.

Translations

Translations of the word "adversaries" in other languages:

🇵🇹 adversários

🇮🇳 विरोधी

🇩🇪 Gegner

🇮🇩 lawan

🇺🇦 суперники

🇵🇱 przeciwnicy

🇯🇵 敵

🇫🇷 adversaires

🇪🇸 adversarios

🇹🇷 rakipler

🇰🇷 적

🇸🇦 خصوم

🇨🇿 protivníci

🇸🇰 protivníci

🇨🇳 对手

🇸🇮 nasprotniki

🇮🇸 andstæðingar

🇰🇿 қарсыластар

🇬🇪 მოწინააღმდეგეები

🇦🇿 rəqiblər

🇲🇽 adversarios

Etymology

The word 'adversaries' originates from the Latin word 'adversarius', which means 'opponent' or 'enemy'. The concept of adversaries has been prevalent throughout history, from ancient conflicts between tribes and nations to modern-day competitive sports and political rivalries.

See also: adversarial.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #11,912, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.