public enemy

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

To the religious authorities in England in the early 16th century, an obdurate Oxford scholar became a public enemy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

He wants to leave everything to me, but not tell his children, which would make me public enemy No. 1.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 16, 2026

Since the “Reputation” era, Swift has made martyrdom into a billion-dollar industry, a smart move further aided by her public enemy, Scooter Braun, purchasing her master recordings in 2019.

From Salon • Aug. 20, 2025

Two men chopped down the world famous Sycamore Gap tree as a "bit of a laugh" and then feared becoming public enemy number one, prosecutors have told jurors.

From BBC • May 7, 2025

Ellen and Tim pick me up in the morning so that I won’t have to face the carport because I am officially Patrick Thomas’s public enemy number one.

From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy