animosity

[an-uh-mos-i-tee]

noun

plural

animosities 

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: hatred, animus, antagonism, opposition, unfriendliness, 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

“And even when they wrote about Barbara, subsequently, you could feel the animosity between them.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

That animosity has led to years of nuclear threats and driven North Korea into closer ties with China and Russia, with Pyongyang even sending troops to assist Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

There’s a lot more animosity and a lot less talk about ideas, so I’m glad to hear you guys are keeping that open.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The roots of the GOP animosity toward disability insurance are hard to fathom.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Up to now, Martin has been a human shield, an easy punchbag, but for all the animosity he drew no Rangers fan thinks that the club's problems began and ended with him.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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