antipathy

[an-tip-uh-thee]

noun

plural

antipathies 

1. a natural, basic, or habitual repugnance; aversion.

   Synonyms: hatred, detestation, abhorrence, disgust
   Antonyms: attraction

2. an instinctive contrariety or opposition in feeling.

3. an object of natural aversion or habitual dislike.

antipathy

/ ænˈtɪpəθɪ /

noun

1. a feeling of intense aversion, dislike, or hostility

2. the object of such a feeling

Other Word Forms

• antipathist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of antipathy¹

1595–1605; < Latin antipathīa < Greek antipátheia. See anti-, -pathy

Word History and Origins

Origin of antipathy¹

C17: from Latin antipathia, from Greek antipatheia, from _anti- + patheia feeling

Synonym Study

See aversion.

Example Sentences

In any event, his campaign generated unprecedented enthusiasm, driving the largest turnout in a New York City election for 56 years — and also generated intense antipathy.

Read more on Salon

His antipathy to Israel, and his tacit support for “globalizing the intifada,” may send a signal to the New York City Police Department that protecting Jews won’t be a priority for the city.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The White House announced that the countries had signed an agreement on the supply of rare earths, a critical sector dominated by China that has deepened the antipathy between Washington and Beijing.

Read more on Barron's

But the setup does seem to invite the antipathy of longtime Simenon fans by mainstreaming their favorite character and making him more or less lovably peculiar.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The other strand from the Smithsonian’s past—the bone rooms and racial condescension—inspired an antipathy toward any association with such notions and a resentment toward the presumptions of traditional museums.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• animosity 
• animus 
• antagonism 
• aversion 
• disgust 
• dislike 
• distaste 
• enmity 
• hatred 
• hostility 
• ill will 
• loathing 
• rancor