enmity

noun

en·mi·ty ˈen-mə-tē

plural enmities

Synonyms of enmity next

: positive, active, and typically mutual hatred or ill will

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Enmity and its synonyms "hostility," animosity, and animus all indicate deep-seated dislike or ill will. Enmity (which derives from an Anglo-French word meaning "enemy") suggests true hatred, either overt or concealed. Hostility implies strong, open enmity that shows itself in attacks or aggression. Animosity carries the sense of anger, vindictiveness, and sometimes the desire to destroy what one hates. Animus is generally less violent than animosity, but definitely conveys active prejudice or ill will.

Choose the Right Synonym for enmity

enmity, hostility, antipathy, antagonism, animosity, rancor, animus mean deep-seated dislike or ill will.

enmity suggests positive hatred which may be open or concealed.

an unspoken enmity

hostility suggests an enmity showing itself in attacks or aggression.

hostility between the two nations

antipathy and antagonism imply a natural or logical basis for one's hatred or dislike, antipathy suggesting repugnance, a desire to avoid or reject, and antagonism suggesting a clash of temperaments leading readily to hostility.

a natural antipathy for self-seekers

antagonism between the brothers

animosity suggests intense ill will and vindictiveness that threaten to kindle hostility.

animosity that led to revenge

rancor is especially applied to bitter brooding over a wrong.

rancor filled every line of his letters

animus adds to animosity the implication of strong prejudice.

objections devoid of personal animus

Examples of enmity in a Sentence

Bin Laden may no longer be supplying directions and funding, but his ethos of enmity lives on. —

Michael Hirsh et al., Newsweek, 10 June 2002

What has earned her the enmity of so many peers is her indiscriminate outspokenness. —

Karen Springer, Newsweek, 10 June 1996

Battles over slavery in the territories broke the second party system apart and then shaped a realigned system that emphasized sectional enmity. —

Mary Beth Norton et al., A People and a Nation, 1988

There's a long history of enmity between them. His comments earned him the enmity of his coworkers. We need to put aside old enmities for the sake of peace.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

The closest parallel was nearly 50 years ago, when then-Egyptian President Anwar Sadat jettisoned decades of enmity and abruptly announced his readiness to travel to Israel, kickstarting diplomacy that led to a peace treaty. —

Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Dec. 2024 That space the evil one abstracted stood From his own evil, and for the time remained Stupidly good, of enmity disarmed. —

Merve Emre, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2024 The next few years may test how much the importance of globalized commerce can temper political enmity. —

Andrew Williams, WIRED, 7 Dec. 2024 In a sign of growing enmity, first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos disclosed her ill feelings toward Sara Duterte in a radio interview in April. —

Jim Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 26 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for enmity