antipathy

noun an·tip·a·thy \ an-ˈti-pə-thē \

|Updated on: 22 Jun 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of antipathy

plural antipathies

1 : a strong feeling of dislike

an antipathy to taxes

a deep antipathy between the groups

2 : something disliked : an object of aversion

… perhaps his greatest antipathies were cabs, old women, doors that would not shut …
—Charles Dickens

3 obsolete : opposition in feeling

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Recent Examples of antipathy from the Web

If the Democrats, young people, and progressives at large do this, there will be a more constructive approach and less antipathy in Washington.

— brittany natale, Teen Vogue, "Hannah Zimmerman Is A Freshman at Stanford University — and New York’s Youngest Elected Official," 6 June 2018
So, too, is antipathy to ideologies imposed from the outside, logical in a former satellite state.

— william galston, The New Republic, "How Hungary explains Europe’s retreat from democracy," 17 May 2018
In fact, among major Republican elected officials in the state, antipathy over D’Siouza appears to outweigh support, though state party chairman Blaise Ingoglia stands by his decision.

— dan sweeney, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Are you OK with Florida GOP hosting speech by Dinesh D'Souza, who mocked Parkland students?," 4 May 2018
In West’s case, his driving force seems to be an antipathy to standard-issue African-American political loyalties.

— matthew yglesias, Vox, "4 political science lessons from Kanye West’s embrace of Donald Trump," 3 May 2018
The abiding antipathy the U.S. public feels toward Iran encouraged Donald Trump to attack the nuclear pact as a populist candidate.

— karl vick, Time, "To Nix or to Fix: Trump’s Major Dilemma on the Iran Deal," 3 May 2018
As the correspondent above, Mr. Eick, points out the antipathy toward gun control in many states would make repeal a pretty tough tote.

— chris stirewalt, Fox News, "Welcome to the jungle, Amazon," 28 Mar. 2018
Donald Trump and Bill de Blasio dislike each other plenty, but the antipathy can’t hide the striking similarities between the two.

— alexander nazaryan, Newsweek, "Donald Trump of New York: How ‘Resistance’ Leader Bill de Blasio Became City Hall’s Very Own Trump," 21 Mar. 2018
Kennedy has sought to make an issue of Romney’s past antipathy for Trump an issue in a primary that Romney, a former governor of Massachusetts, is heavily favored to win.

— john wagner, Washington Post, "Romney reveals his 2016 choice for president: His wife, Ann," 31 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'antipathy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

When the nation of Yugoslavia was created in 1945, it combined a number of ethnic groups with a history of violent antipathy toward each other. In 1991–92 four regions of the country announced that they would become independent nations; a bloody six-year war followed, fueled by these ancient and powerful antipathies. The American Civil War similarly resulted from antipathy between the North and the South. But in the U.S.'s relations with its next-door neighbors, it's been a long time since emotions have gotten much stronger than annoyance.

Origin and Etymology of antipathy

Latin antipathia, from Greek antipatheia, from antipathēs of opposite feelings, from anti- + pathos experience — more at pathos

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1592

in the meaning defined at sense 3

See Words from the same year

antipathy Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of antipathy

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.