ill will

noun

1. hostile feeling; malevolence; enmity.

   to harbor ill will against someone.

   Synonyms: unfriendliness, antipathy, animosity, hostility, hatred
   Antonyms: benevolence

ill will

noun

1. hostile feeling; enmity; antagonism

Other Word Forms

• ill-willed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ill will¹

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300

Example Sentences

“We don’t wish any ill will or anything for her,” he said in a brief telephone interview.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“The left did not hesitate to take to social media sending ill will the president’s way,” he said.

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"I bear her no ill will. My prayer for her is that she uses her time in jail wisely to become a better person," he said, to gasps in the courtroom.

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He said there was no inkling of ill will towards his family, though.

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Mr Rushworth said he bore "no ill will" towards Clarke, adding: "I have tried at every step to balance the needs for security with compassion for a man I deem to be mentally unwell."

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Related Words

• acrimony 
• animosity 
• animus 
• antagonism 
• antipathy 
• bad blood 
• bitterness 
• enmity 
• envy 
• grudge 
• hate 
• hatred 
• hostility 
• loathing 
• malice 
• rancor 
• resentment