animosity

[ an-uh-mos-i-tee ]

noun

, plural an·i·mos·i·ties.

1. a feeling of strong dislike, ill will, or enmity that tends to display itself in action:

   a deep-seated animosity between two sisters; animosity against one's neighbor.

   Synonyms: unfriendliness, hatred, animus, antagonism, opposition, hostility

animosity

/ ˌænɪˈmɒsɪtɪ /

noun

1. a powerful and active dislike or hostility; enmity

Word History and Origins

Origin of animosity¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English animosite, from Middle French, from Late Latin animōsitāt-, stem of animōsitās “ardor, boldness, wrath,” from Latin animōs(us) “spirited” (from anim(us) animus + -ōsus -ose ¹ ) + -itās -ity

Word History and Origins

Origin of animosity¹

C15: from Late Latin animōsitās, from Latin animōsus spirited, from animus

Example Sentences

But the animosity between the community and law enforcement is nothing new.

From The Daily Beast

Is it weird to see all the current animosity between the U.S. and Russia now?

From The Daily Beast

The result created quite a bit of “animosity and bad blood.”

From The Daily Beast

It is this mindless atrocity, driven by both avarice and animosity, that is at play in the film.

From The Daily Beast

But animosity started in the1920s, with Jewish-Arab clashes.

From The Daily Beast

Hilda impetuously turned her head; their glances met for an instant, in suspicion, challenge, animosity.

From Project Gutenberg

The animosity to the Dutch mingled itself both with the animosity to standing armies and with the animosity to Crown grants.

From Project Gutenberg

Animosity is resolute even in its caprices; it has few facilities for disguise and but little capacity for assumption.

From Project Gutenberg

There was therefore not the same animosity in their struggle as there might have been had the religious question entered it.

From Project Gutenberg

Frederick's animosity reached its highest pitch at that time, and we now know the full extent of the malady.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• acrimony
• animus
• antagonism
• antipathy
• bad blood
• bitterness
• enmity
• hate
• hatred
• hostility
• ill will
• malice
• rancor
• resentment