enmity

noun

en·​mi·​ty ˈen-mə-tē 

plural enmities

: 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.

Synonyms

• hostility
• grudge
• hatred
• bitterness

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

Paul Monreal is a fourth-great-grandchild of Catherine and Patrick O’Leary, who endured the enmity of Chicagoans after they were wrongfully accused of starting the Great Chicago Fire, which legend said was started by a jittery dairy cow named Daisy. —William Lee, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2025

Trump has never wavered in his enmity for California. —Thomas Elias, Mercury News, 23 June 2025

With no end in sight to the enmity in the political system, attention is turning to increasing security for lawmakers and others in public life. —Niall Stanage, The Hill, 17 June 2025

Trump can take credit for bringing these three countries closer together; given their historical enmities, that would be a considerable (if unintended) achievement. —Malcolm Turnbull, Foreign Affairs, 6 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English enmite, from Anglo-French enemité, enemisté, from enemi enemy

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

enmity

noun

en·​mi·​ty ˈen-mət-ē 

plural enmities

: a very deep unfriendly feeling : hatred