a person or group that is hostile to someone; enemy an opposing contestant in a game or sport
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
ad•ver•sar•y /ˈædvɚˌsɛri/USA pronunciation
n., pl. -ies. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- a person, group, etc., that opposes or attacks; opponent;
enemy:She was a dangerous political adversary.
ad•ver•sar•y
(ad′vər ser′ē),USA pronunciation n., pl. -sar•ies, adj.
n.
adj. Also,[esp. Brit.,] ad•ver•sar•i•al
ad′ver•sar′i•ness, n.
n.
- a person, group, or force that opposes or attacks; opponent;
enemy;
foe. - a person, group, etc., that is an opponent in a contest;
contestant. - the Adversary, the devil;
Satan.
adj. Also,[esp. Brit.,] ad•ver•sar•i•al
- (ad′vər•sâr′ē•əl).USA pronunciation
- of or pertaining to an adversary.
- involving adversaries, as plaintiff and defendant in a legal proceeding:an adversary trial.
- Anglo-French
- Latin adversārius, equivalent. to advers(us) (see adverse) + -ārius -ary; replacing Middle English adversere
- Middle English adversarie 1300–50
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged Adversary, antagonist mean a person or a group contending against another. Adversary suggests an enemy who fights determinedly, continuously, and relentlessly:a formidable adversary.Antagonist suggests one who, in hostile spirit, opposes another, often in a particular contest or struggle:a duel with an antagonist.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged ally.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'adversary' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Satan
- adversaryism
- adverse
- ally
- antagonist
- associate
- denial
- enemy
- enstatite
- feint
- fight
- first strike
- fishing expedition
- foe
- follower
- hand-to-hand
- hold
- jujitsu
- match
- mercy
- name
- opponent
- oppose
- overture
- peace offering
- stratagem
- straw man
- struggle
- unhorse
- uppercut
- versiera
- victor
- victorious
- weapon
- win