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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.
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.
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
Their dynamic seems born not of enmity but something almost more collaborative.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 29 June 2025
This is a big call, as anti-U.S. enmity may have passed.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 4 June 2025
The talks seek to limit Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of some of the crushing economic sanctions the U.S. has imposed on the Islamic Republic, closing in on half a century of enmity.
—Amir Vahdat, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2025
In the context of India and Pakistan, audiences are already primed to embrace and spread any falsehoods, given the two countries’ historical enmity, Dr. Silverman said.
—Anupreeta Das, New York Times, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for enmity
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Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 29 June 2025
This is a big call, as anti-U.S. enmity may have passed.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 4 June 2025
The talks seek to limit Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of some of the crushing economic sanctions the U.S. has imposed on the Islamic Republic, closing in on half a century of enmity.
—Amir Vahdat, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2025
In the context of India and Pakistan, audiences are already primed to embrace and spread any falsehoods, given the two countries’ historical enmity, Dr. Silverman said.
—Anupreeta Das, New York Times, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for enmity
Cite this Entry
“Enmity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enmity. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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