Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A person who is ostensibly friendly or collegial with someone but who is actually antagonistic or competitive.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun humorous Someone who
pretends to be your friend, but is really your enemy. - noun humorous A
fair-weather friend who is also arival .
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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Though the term frenemy is not gender-specific, there is something troubling about the fact that it is overwhelmingly applied to women.
The Full Feed from HuffingtonPost.com Nicole Rodgers 2011
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The term frenemy appeared in print as early as 1953, but gained huge popularity in the past few years.
The Full Feed from HuffingtonPost.com Nicole Rodgers 2011
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The term frenemy, seamlessly blending the words fri (end) and enemy, refers to someone who pretends to be a friend but actually is an enemy --- a proverbial wolf in sheep's clothing in the world of friendships.
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I kinda feel like some of these could have happened purposefully in an effort to humorously combine the two words that sound alike, you know, kinda like "frenemy" -- "congraduation."
Jen GraduRants 2010
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The actress refuses to name names, simply calling the ex-pal a "frenemy" - leading gossips to speculate on who the old friend might be.
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Anyway, she says a frenemy is a friend who is partly an enemy, or a friend that you kind of dislike.
Dear Pen Pal Heather Vogel Frederick 2009
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Anyway, she says a frenemy is a friend who is partly an enemy, or a friend that you kind of dislike.
Dear Pen Pal Heather Vogel Frederick 2009
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Anyway, she says a frenemy is a friend who is partly an enemy, or a friend that you kind of dislike.
Dear Pen Pal Heather Vogel Frederick 2009
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The frenemy is the dark side of the user, with manipulation an underlying factor in these negative relationships.
Therese Borchard: 10 Types Of Female Friends: How Many Do You Have? 2009
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Anyway, she says a frenemy is a friend who is partly an enemy, or a friend that you kind of dislike.
Dear Pen Pal Heather Vogel Frederick 2009
oroboros commented on the word frenemy
An enemy disguised as a friend. Cf. Trojan Horse.
May 22, 2007
john commented on the word frenemy
Or a friend disguised as an enemy. Or someone or something that's both at once:
"In this new open web world, where the cost of rolling out services is remarkably low, and eyeballs are the currency, everyone is a frenemy. Friends of today are enemies of tomorrow. Enemies of today are tomorrow’s friends."
- from GigaOM, 6/27/07
July 16, 2007
slumry commented on the word frenemy
Yes, it could be a friend who does you dirt.
July 16, 2007
jrome commented on the word frenemy
"* Risk is asymmetrical. First parties “bet the company�? before launch, but independent game-makers “bet the company�? for years after. This creates “frenemies�? who battle for game market share and profits."
Bing Gordon, http://zblog.zynga.com/?p=3
August 11, 2008
thtownse commented on the word frenemy
What a dum word.
August 12, 2008
yarb commented on the word frenemy
This word is just pure shite!
August 12, 2008
she commented on the word frenemy
I agree. I think because it's in cahoots with pronouncing friend as "fren."
August 12, 2008
chained_bear commented on the word frenemy
Does this word apply to people you don't know very well and don't care to get to know any better who still try to befriend you on social networking sites?
August 12, 2008
vjachimowicz commented on the word frenemy
A frenemy is someone who acts like a friend but is really an enemy.
"I thought Tammy was my friend, but based on her recent behavior, I've realized she is actually a frenemy."
July 9, 2009
MomA commented on the word frenemy
"Frenemy" was added to the Webster Dictionary this year. It means someone who acts or pretends to be your friend, when in fact they don't like you and don't have your best interests at heart and they work against you.
September 14, 2009