: a strong feeling of dislike or hatred : ill will or resentment tending toward active hostility : an antagonistic attitude
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Where does the word animosity come from?
The important Latin word animus (very closely related to anima) could mean a great many things having to do with the soul and the emotions, one of them being "anger". As an English word, animus has generally meant "ill will", so it isn't mysterious that animosity means basically the same thing. Animosity can exist between two people, two groups or organizations, or two countries, and can sometimes lie hidden for years before reappearing. The deep animosities that exist between certain ethnic and religious groups sometimes seem as if they will last forever.
enmity suggests positive hatred which may be open or concealed.
an unspoken enmity
hostility suggests an enmity showing itself in attacks or aggression.
hostility between the two nations
antipathy and antagonism imply a natural or logical basis for one's hatred or dislike, antipathy suggesting repugnance, a desire to avoid or reject, and antagonism suggesting a clash of temperaments leading readily to hostility.
a natural antipathy for self-seekers
antagonism between the brothers
animosity suggests intense ill will and vindictiveness that threaten to kindle hostility.
animosity that led to revenge
rancor is especially applied to bitter brooding over a wrong.
rancor filled every line of his letters
animus adds to animosity the implication of strong prejudice.
objections devoid of personal animus
Example Sentences
Few rivalries can match that of the Cards and Cubs in terms of history, color and animosity. Things are tense in an off year, but in 2003 the teams are at the top of the National League Central division (along with the Houston Astros), separated by a half-game. John Grisham, New York Times Book Review, 1 May 2005As I get older, I have noticed the troubles many of my friends have with their fathers: the animosities and disappointments, held so long in the arrears of late adolescence, suddenly coming up due on both ends. But my father and I, if anything, have gotten closer, even as I understand him less and less. Tom Bissell, Harper's, December 2004What I did not anticipate, however, was the depth of animosity that had been simmering among the teachers beneath the pleasantries that characterized our public, formal encounters. I discovered that my enthusiastic advocacy for whole language was received by traditional teachers as demeaning, insulting attacks. Elaine Garan, Language Arts, September 1998 We put aside our personal animosities so that we could work together. his open animosity towards us made our meeting very uncomfortable
Recent Examples on the WebThe animosity seethes and builds to an explosive clash. Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Sep. 2022 However, insiders believe that despite the hurt feelings, pragmatic politicians like Wu and Healey are too smart to let any animosity linger. Danny Mcdonald, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Sep. 2022 Experts say the movement thrives on events that spur civil disobedience and animosity towards the government. Will Carless, USA TODAY, 7 Sep. 2022 Nationalistic hatred also flared up last month after the discovery of the worship of Japanese war criminals at a Chinese temple in Nanjing, a city central to Chinese animosity toward Japan. Rhoda Kwan, NBC News, 3 Sep. 2022 Although Cincinnati was a stronghold of abolitionism, and Duncanson found great success painting for a white patronage, racial animosity intensified as the decade wore on. John Wilmerding, WSJ, 2 Sep. 2022 The team’s latest acquisition, Beverley, has a history of on-court animosity with Westbrook, the guard the team wants to unload. Amy Hubbard, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2022 The vivid and violent incident, unusual for Moscow, is likely to aggravate Russia-Ukraine animosity. Jim Heintz, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2022 Since the attack, her high-profile rebuke of Trump and his allies — and her leadership role on the House Jan. 6 select committee — has only strengthened that animosity. Aaron Navarro, CBS News, 16 Aug. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English animosite, from Middle French or Late Latin; Middle French animosité, from Late Latin animositat-, animositas, from Latin animosus spirited, from animus — see animus