Basic Details
Word: Adversary
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: A person or group you are fighting, competing or arguing against; an opponent.
Synonyms: opponent, rival, enemy, foe
Antonyms: ally, friend, supporter
How to Spell Adversary
Syllables: ad - ver - sa - ry
Tricky part: The ending is -ary, not -ery or -ory. The middle is ver, with an e, though in quick speech it can sound like var.
Watch out for: adversery, advarsary, adversory
Memory tip: Your adversary is the one who is versus you. Write ad + vers (as in versus) + ary.
Usage Examples
Example 1: In the chess final, Arjun faced his toughest adversary yet.
Example 2: The two kings had been adversaries for twenty years before they signed a treaty.
Example 3: A good lawyer treats an adversary with respect, even in a heated case.
Fun Fact
Adversary comes from Latin adversus, turned against. The same root gives adverse, as in adverse weather, and adversity, meaning hard times.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word adversary as used in the sentence:
In the badminton final, Anika finally met the adversary who had beaten her twice before.
a) supporter
b) coach
c) ally
d) opponent
Show answer
d) opponent. An opponent is the person on the other side, which is what an adversary is.
Word Cookie
Fill in the missing letters to complete the word:
adv_rs_ry
a) e, o
b) a, a
c) e, e
d) e, a
Show answer
d) e, a. Vers is spelt as in versus, and the ending is -ary, as in dictionary.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
The knight bowed to his yrdasvare before the duel began.
a) adverse
b) adversity
c) adversary
d) anniversary
Show answer
c) adversary. A knight bows to the person he is about to fight, his adversary; adversity is a hard time, not a person.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which pair are adversaries?
a) a teacher and her helper
b) two players facing each other in a final
c) two friends sharing lunch
d) a mother and her baby
Show answer
b) two players facing each other in a final
2. A situation described as adversarial is one that is ____.
a) full of opposition and conflict
b) funny and light
c) short and simple
d) calm and friendly
Show answer
a) full of opposition and conflict
