animus

American  

[an-uh-muhs] / ˈæn ə məs /

noun

1. strong dislike or enmity; hostile attitude; animosity.

2. motivating purpose or intention; animating spirit.

3. (in the psychology of C. G. Jung) the masculine principle, especially as present in women.

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animus British  

/ ˈænɪməs /

noun

1. intense dislike; hatred; animosity

2. motive, intention, or purpose

3. (in Jungian psychology) the masculine principle present in the female unconscious See also anima

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Etymology

Origin of animus

First recorded in 1810–20; from Latin: literally, “mind, spirit, courage, passion, wrath”; akin to Greek ánemos “wind”; anima

Compare meaning

How does animus compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• anima vs. animus

Example Sentences

Despite its historic animus, the World Bank said 80% of its country economists reported that client governments last year sought their advice on how to use industrial policy more effectively.

From The Wall Street Journal

Byers, who represented himself at trial, said he had no animus toward law enforcement and that it would be “out of character” for him to shoot at police.

From Los Angeles Times

She rejected suggestions such tactics could be discriminatory, saying "racial animus has no place in DHS".

From BBC

Some of the animus directed at Macaulay is based on things he really said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Either way, radicalism and animus replace knowledge and wisdom.

From The Wall Street Journal