animus

an·i·mus

noun \ˈa-nə-məs\

Definition of ANIMUS

1

: basic attitude or governing spirit : disposition, intention

2

: a usually prejudiced and often spiteful or malevolent ill will

3

: an inner masculine part of the female personality in the analytic psychology of C. G. Jung — compare anima

Examples of ANIMUS

1. She felt an animus against them.
2. <feeling no animus toward those who had wronged her>

Origin of ANIMUS

Latin, spirit, mind, courage, anger

First Known Use: 1816

Related to ANIMUS

Synonyms: animosity, enmity, antagonism, antipathy, bad blood, bitterness, gall, grudge, hostility, jaundice, rancor

Antonyms: amity

Related Words: blood feud, feud, score, vendetta; hate, hatred, loathing; vindictiveness, virulence, vitriol; alienation, disaffection, estrangement; conflict, coolness, discord, friction, strain, tension; inhospitableness, unfriendliness; malice, malignancy, malignity, spite, spitefulness, venom

Near Antonyms: amiability, amicability, civility, cordiality, friendliness, hospitality, neighborliness; comity, empathy, friendship, goodwill, sympathy, understanding

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See Synonym Discussion at enmity

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal