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

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

Must I tell you that antipathy will turn to appreciation as our heroes make common cause, get a little personal and, with the able Agent Bisset, become real-life action heroes?

Read more on Los Angeles Times

During the Biden administration, U.S. officials hoped to use that antipathy to forge an anti-Iran coalition that would see friendly nations like Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the UAE cooperating with Israel to isolate Tehran.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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