adversary
/ˈædvəsəri/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈædvərseri/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈad-vər-ˌser-ē ˈad-və-, -ˌse-rē/ (ame, mw)
adversary — noun
- adversarysingular
- adversariesplural
1. a person, group, or force that opposes another in a conflict, competition, or di
a person, group, or force that opposes another in a conflict, competition, or disagreement
During the trial, the prosecutor and the defence lawyer treated each other as adversaries rather than colleagues.
adversary used for opposing sides in legal context
The two companies have been fierce adversaries in the electric vehicle market for years.
adjective + adversary: fierce adversaries
In the final match, Amara faced a formidable adversary who had won every major title that season.
Deforestation is a common adversary that conservation groups across the region are fighting together.
The general studied his adversary's troop movements for weeks before planning the attack.
- opponent
more neutral; can be used in friendly competition without implying hostility
- foe
more literary and dramatic; carries stronger emotional weight
- rival
emphasises ongoing competition for the same goal rather than direct conflict
- antagonist
formal; often used in narratives or literary analysis for the character opposing the protagonist
文法句型
adversary + in [something]
possessive + adversary
用法筆記
More formal than 'enemy'; often used in legal, political, or competitive contexts rather than personal relationships.
常見錯誤
adversary — adjective
- adversarypositive
- more adversarycomparative
- most adversarysuperlative
1. describing the attitude or role of an opponent toward the other side in a confli
describing the attitude or role of an opponent toward the other side in a conflict or competition
The two tech giants shifted to an adversary footing after years of cooperation in the smartphone market.
adversary footing — attributive adjective describing the nature of a relationship
The intelligence unit tracked adversary naval activity in the disputed waters for several months.
adversary naval activity — attributive adjective modifying a military/strategic noun
The commander ordered his troops to maintain an adversary position despite the enemy's calls for a ceasefire.
- adversarial
the standard modern adjective; much more common than 'adversary' as an attributive adjective
- hostile
stronger and more emotional; implies active ill will rather than structural opposition
- cooperative
working together willingly toward a shared goal
- friendly
showing kindness and goodwill rather than opposition
文法句型
adversary + noun
用法筆記
This sense is uncommon in everyday speech; 'adversarial' is far more frequent for the same meaning. 'Adversary' as an adjective is nearly always placed before a noun and describes the nature of a relationship or position.
常見錯誤
2. describing a process, system, or situation where opposing sides have directly co
describing a process, system, or situation where opposing sides have directly conflicting interests, especially in formal legal or political proceedings
In an adversary legal system, the judge remains neutral while each side argues its case.
adversary legal system — describes a structural feature of a system
The negotiation took on an adversary character, with neither side willing to compromise.
adversary character — attributive adjective modifying a noun in a formal context
The dispute was resolved through arbitration, avoiding a costly adversary proceeding in court.
- adversarial
the usual adjective for describing opposing-interest situations outside legal terminology
- antagonistic
suggests active conflict and mutual resistance rather than structural opposition
- consensual
based on mutual agreement rather than opposition
- cooperative
involving joint effort toward a shared outcome
文法句型
adversary + noun (process, system, proceeding)
用法筆記
Almost exclusively appears in legal and formal contexts such as 'adversary system', 'adversary proceeding', or 'adversary hearing'. In everyday language, 'adversarial' is the standard adjective for this meaning.