frenemy
8.3
Appearing friendly but secretly trying to compete with you
- adjective
- /ˈfrɛnəmi/
- Slang
:
rival amistoso
- The frenemy relationship between the two coworkers created constant tension in the office.
Examples
-
Her frenemy attitude made it hard to know if she was truly supportive.
-
Navigating a frenemy dynamic can be tricky, as you never know when a friendly gesture might hide resentment.
-
He received advice from a frenemy who secretly wanted him to fail.
-
Her frenemy smile always left us guessing about her true feelings.
-
At the party, she acted like a friend, but her frenemy comments revealed her jealousy.
How Friendly
Surface Forms
frenemy positive
Morphology
Etymology
Frenemy used as an adjective comes from the same blend of friend and enemy, and it describes someone who seems 'friendly' but is really a 'rival'. So, calling someone a 'frenemy' in this way says they act nice on the surface but may secretly want you to fail.