adversary
AD-ver-sair-eenounMeaning an opponent; someone you compete or fight against
Memory hook AD-VERSUS-ary: ME VERSUS YOU. In the tug-of-war, it is Jonah versus Rosa, each pulling the other way: they are adversaries.
In the chess final, Maya faced her toughest adversary: her own grandfather.
In context The two lawyers were good friends outside the courtroom, but inside it they were adversaries, each working hard to win the case.
Similar opponent, rival, foe, enemy
Opposite ally, friend, teammate
From Latin adversarius, “opponent,” from adversus, “turned against”: ad (toward) + vertere (to turn).