animus

noun

an·​i·​mus ˈa-nə-məs 

1

: a usually prejudiced and often spiteful or malevolent ill will

harbored an animus toward them

… the sixties mentality, with its strong animus against what it defines as "elitism" …

—Daniel J. Singal

2

: basic attitude or governing spirit : disposition, intention

3

: an inner masculine part of the female personality in the analytical psychology of Carl Gustav Jung compare anima

Did you know?

Animus has long referred to the rational or animating components of a person's psyche (it derives from Latin animus, which can mean "spirit," "mind," "courage," or "anger"). Since a key animating component of personality can be temper, the word came to mean animosity, especially ill will that is driven by strong prejudice. The term is also used in the analytic psychology of C. G. Jung in reference to an inner masculine part of the female personality. The English animus is closely related to words such as animosity, magnanimous, and unanimous, but it is not as closely related to other similar-looking terms such as animal and animate. Those latter terms derive from the Latin anima, a distinct term that means "soul" or "breath" and that suggests someone's physical vitality or life force—the breath of life.

Synonyms

• animosity
• antagonism
• antipathy
• bad blood
• bitterness
• enmity
• gall
• grudge
• hostility
• jaundice
• rancor

Choose the Right Synonym for animus

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 animus in a Sentence

She felt an animus against them.

feeling no animus toward those who had wronged her

Recent Examples on the Web

The president’s personal animus toward low-flow devices was reflected in his administration’s executive orders liberating manufacturers from the constraints imposed on them by the environmental lobby and the politicians beholden to it. —The Editors, National Review, 11 Apr. 2025

Moreover, Griffin's animus toward local progressives, especially during the Issue 38 campaign and the Gaza ceasefire protests, could limit his ability to marshal grassroots support. —Sam Allard, Axios, 2 Apr. 2025

But, recently, owning a Tesla has become awkward, embarrassing or controversial for many as animus against the carmaker’s CEO, Elon Musk, reaches a boiling point. —Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2025

Trump has expressed particular animus toward Canada — the U.S.’s second-largest trading partner — since his November election, and has imposed tariffs on the country’s goods coming into the U.S. —Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin, spirit, mind, courage, anger

First Known Use

1795, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for animus

• magnanimous
• unanimous
• pusillanimous

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Medical Definition

animus

noun

an·​i·​mus ˈan-ə-məs 

: an inner masculine part of the female personality in the analytical psychology of C. G. Jung compare anima sense 1

Legal Definition

animus

noun

an·​i·​mus ˈa-nə-məs 

: intent

discriminatory animus

compare mens rea

Etymology

Latin, mind, soul