How Do You Spell ENEMY?

Pronunciation: [ˈɛnəmi] (IPA)

The spelling of the word "enemy" may seem straightforward, but its pronunciation can be tricky. In IPA phonetic transcription, "enemy" is written as /ˈɛnəmi/, which includes the schwa sound in the second syllable. This is because the letter "y" often acts as a vowel in English, taking on the role of a short "i" sound in this case. So, even though it may not be obvious from the spelling, the correct pronunciation of "enemy" includes a subtle shift in vowel sound between the first and second syllables.

ENEMY Meaning and Definition

1. An enemy is defined as an individual, group, or nation that opposes, threatens, or actively works against another individual, group, or nation. The term "enemy" embodies the concept of hostility and animosity towards someone or something. It highlights a relationship characterized by opposition, conflict, and potential harm.

   Enemies can manifest in various forms and contexts. Within personal relationships, an enemy can be someone who harbors ill feelings, malice, or a desire to cause harm or undermine the other person's well-being. Such a person may engage in verbal attacks, emotional manipulation, or even physical aggression.

   In a broader sense, enemies can exist on a societal or national level, where groups or nations perceive others as a threat to their values, security, or interests. This may result in conflicts, wars, or political tensions driven by ideologies, territorial disputes, or competition for resources.

   The term "enemy" connotes a sense of danger and opposition, as it represents the antithesis of friendship, cooperation, and peace. An enemy challenges, contradicts, or obstructs the goals, beliefs, or interests of another individual or collective. However, it is important to note that identifying someone as an enemy may also depend on subjective perspectives, as perceptions of enmity can vary based on personal or collective biases, historical context, or power dynamics.

2. One who hates another person; a foe; an adversary; an opposing armed force, naval or military.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for ENEMY *

• emeny 9.7560975%
• ememy 9.2682926%
• enimy 8.7804878%
• enermy 5.609756%
• anemy 0.9756097%
• enime 0.4878048%
• enenmy 0.4878048%
• emermy 0.2439024%

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for ENEMY

• enomey
• unemp
• enama
• energ
• enegey
• enery
• denem
• enerdy
• enyoy
• econemy
• enemity
• anery
• enegy
• enemt
• enony
• enamey
• enkoy
• onmy
• enemil
• engoy
• anema
• eonomy
• emimy
• enloy
• enemny
• enmeny
• enimey
• emmmy
• enhoy
• enimys
• enima
• enemia
• ecomy
• eemy
• enete
• mnemy
• enksy
• tenesy
• anomy
• Benemm
• einomy
• Venery
• eness
• Keemy
• phemy
• OnEM
• epeay
• eneii
• ekcmy
• enipy
• eneww
• euedy
• inexy
• cnemys
• Yenesy
• Eneah
• Enemme
• Enkuy
• Boemy
• enamyy
• Eddemy
• Eniiy
• Edeay
• Eonumyn
• Venems

Etymology of ENEMY

The word enemy originated from the Old French term ennemi, which was derived from the Latin word inimicus. In Latin, inimicus is a combination of the prefix in- (meaning not) and amicus (meaning friend). Hence, the word enemy conveys the meaning of not a friend or opponent.

Idioms with the word ENEMY

• The good is the enemy of the best The idiom "The good is the enemy of the best" means that settling for something that is merely good or satisfactory can prevent one from striving for or achieving something that is even better or perfect. It warns against complacency and encourages the pursuit of excellence or the highest possible standard.
• best is the enemy of the good The idiom "best is the enemy of the good" means that striving for perfection or the best possible outcome can often hinder or prevent achieving a good enough result. It suggests that the pursuit of perfection can be detrimental, as it can lead to wasted time, effort, or even failure, while settling for a good or satisfactory outcome can be more practical and realistic.
• let (the) perfect be the enemy of (the) good The idiom "let perfect be the enemy of good" means becoming so focused on achieving perfection or an ideal outcome that it prevents progress or prevents one from accepting a satisfactory or good outcome. It suggests that striving for perfection can hinder or impede the completion or acceptance of something that is already good or satisfactory.
• sworn enemy The idiom "sworn enemy" refers to a person or group with whom one has a deep-rooted and long-standing hostility or animosity. This phrase implies a formal or solemn commitment to opposing or harming each other.
• enemy combatant The idiom "enemy combatant" refers to an individual who is engaged in armed conflict against a particular nation or group, and is seen as a threat to the safety and security of that nation or group. This term is often used to describe someone who is deemed to have forfeited their legal rights as a result of their involvement in hostile activities.
• my enemy's enemy is my friend The idiom "my enemy's enemy is my friend" means that when you have a common adversary with someone you consider your enemy, it may be advantageous to form an alliance or collaborate with that person in order to overcome the shared threat.
• the enemy of my enemy is my friend The idiom "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" means that when two parties share a common adversary or opponent, they are likely to form a temporary alliance or cooperate with each other, despite being otherwise in conflict or having different agendas.
• I/you wouldn't wish sth on anyone/my/your worst enemy The idiom "I/you wouldn't wish sth on anyone/my/your worst enemy" means that something is so unpleasant or undesirable that one would not want it to happen to anyone, not even to their most hated person or adversary. It suggests that the experience or outcome is extremely negative, and no one should have to go through it.
• wouldn't wish something on my, etc. worst enemy The idiom "wouldn't wish something on my worst enemy" is used to express that a person considers something so terrible or unpleasant that they would not want it to happen even to someone they have deep resentment or hostility towards. It conveys the idea that the thing being referred to is exceptionally undesirable or harsh.
• no plan survives contact with the enemy The definition of the idiom "no plan survives contact with the enemy" is that even the most well-thought-out or carefully prepared plan may need to be modified or abandoned when it is put into practice or faced with unexpected challenges.
• public enemy number one The idiom "public enemy number one" refers to a person or group who is widely regarded as posing a significant threat or danger to society or the general public. It implies that the individual or entity is seen as the most notorious and prominent criminal or enemy in the eyes of the public.
• public enemy number one/no. 1 The idiom "public enemy number one/no.1" refers to an individual or group that is perceived as the greatest threat or enemy to society, often due to their criminal activities, actions, or disruptive behavior. This term is commonly used to emphasize the level of opposition or danger associated with a particular person or organization.
• I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. The idiom "I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy" means that one would not want a particular unfortunate or painful situation to happen to anyone, not even to someone they dislike or have ill feelings towards. It emphasizes the severity or undesirability of the situation, suggesting that it is so terrible that no one should have to experience it.
• be your own worst enemy The idiom "be your own worst enemy" means to act or behave in a way that hinders or harms oneself, often through one's own thoughts, actions, or choices. It describes a situation where a person's self-sabotaging tendencies or negative behaviors impede their progress, success, or well-being.
• (one's) own worst enemy The idiom "(one's) own worst enemy" refers to a person who consistently acts, thinks, or behaves in a way that is detrimental to their own success, well-being, or happiness. It indicates that the person's own actions or choices contribute to their problems or prevent them from achieving their desired outcomes.
• be (one's) own worst enemy The idiom "be (one's) own worst enemy" means to consistently and unintentionally cause harm or obstacles for oneself through self-destructive behavior, negative attitudes, or poor decision-making. It implies that one's own actions or mindset are the main causes of their problems or failures.
• I/You wouldn't wish sth on my/your worst enemy. The idiom "I/You wouldn't wish something on my/your worst enemy" means that something is so terrible or undesirable that you would not want anyone, not even your most hated enemies, to experience it. It emphasizes the severity or extreme nature of the situation, indicating that it is far worse than what one believes their worst enemy deserves.
• I wouldn't wish (something) on my worst enemy The idiom "I wouldn't wish (something) on my worst enemy" means that the speaker strongly dislikes or finds a particular situation so terrible, cruel, or painful that they wouldn't want anyone, even their worst enemy, to experience it. It conveys the extreme nature of the undesirable situation or condition being referred to.
• your own worst enemy The idiom "your own worst enemy" refers to a person who consistently and unknowingly sabotages their own success or well-being, usually by making poor choices, holding onto negative attitudes, or engaging in self-destructive behavior. This idiom suggests that the person's own actions or mindset are causing more harm than any external factors or adversaries.

Similar spelling word for ENEMY

• enema.

Plural form of ENEMY is ENEMIES