ANIMUS Synonyms: 52 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'animus' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of animus are animosity , antagonism , antipathy , enmity , hostility , and rancor . While all these words mean "deep-seated dislike or ill will," animus adds to animosity the implication of strong prejudice. // objections devoid of personal animus

Q: When is 'animosity' a more appropriate choice than 'animus'?

The synonyms animosity and animus are sometimes interchangeable, but animosity suggests intense ill will and vindictiveness that threaten to kindle hostility. // animosity that led to revenge

Q: How do 'antipathy' and 'antagonism' relate to one another, in the sense of 'animus'?

Both 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

Q: When would 'enmity' be a good substitute for 'animus'?

The words enmity and animus can be used in similar contexts, but enmity suggests positive hatred which may be open or concealed. // an unspoken enmity

Q: When might 'hostility' be a better fit than 'animus'?

While in some cases nearly identical to animus , hostility suggests an enmity showing itself in attacks or aggression. // hostility between the two nations

Q: When is it sensible to use 'rancor' instead of 'animus'?

While the synonyms rancor and animus are close in meaning, rancor is especially applied to bitter brooding over a wrong. // rancor filled every line of his letters

animus

noun

ˈa-nə-məs

Definition of animus next

as in hostility

a deep-seated ill will feeling no animus toward those who had wronged her

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How does the noun animus differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of animus are animosity, antagonism, antipathy, enmity, hostility, and rancor. While all these words mean "deep-seated dislike or ill will," animus adds to animosity the implication of strong prejudice.

objections devoid of personal animus

When is animosity a more appropriate choice than animus?

The synonyms animosity and animus are sometimes interchangeable, but animosity suggests intense ill will and vindictiveness that threaten to kindle hostility.

animosity that led to revenge

How do antipathy and antagonism relate to one another, in the sense of animus?

Both 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

When would enmity be a good substitute for animus?

The words enmity and animus can be used in similar contexts, but enmity suggests positive hatred which may be open or concealed.

an unspoken enmity

When might hostility be a better fit than animus?

While in some cases nearly identical to animus, hostility suggests an enmity showing itself in attacks or aggression.

hostility between the two nations

When is it sensible to use rancor instead of animus?

While the synonyms rancor and animus are close in meaning, rancor is especially applied to bitter brooding over a wrong.

rancor filled every line of his letters

Examples Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of animus But voters across the county say that the animus that has plagued national politics feels draining, especially in a small place where people value being able to get along. —

Eduardo Medina, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2024 Read More: Mark Robinson Loses North Carolina Governor's Race And, with that, North Carolinians had a taste for how competition could breed animus. —

Christopher Cooper / Made By History, TIME, 11 Dec. 2024 Reasonable people could assume that after that display of personal animus, Sheridan would be done writing self-insert victory laps into his flagship TV series. —

Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2024 In some instances, that animus resulted in direct support of Donald Trump. —

Fidel Martinez, Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for animus

Recent Examples of Synonyms for animus

Noun

For example, shrinking the size and scope of government is a goal which could help the country, but reducing or trimming government programs for almost any constituency would be fraught with hostility and political costs.

— Frank Lavin, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
Just more than 100 were released in late November 2023 during a pause in hostilities, in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners.

— Keir Simmons, NBC News, 15 Jan. 2025