antipathy

an·tip·a·thy | \ an-ˈti-pə-thē

plural antipathies

Definition of antipathy

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

Other Words from antipathy Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about antipathy

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Choose the Right Synonym for 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. 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

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.

Examples of antipathy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Why did Lord Gordon, a person so capable of empathy, harbour such antipathy for his Catholic neighbors? — The Economist, "Does your brain care about other people? It depends," 4 Nov. 2019 And that may just be sufficient, coupled with antipathy among Democrats toward Trump, to start building a delegate firewall, starting in Iowa. — Philip Elliott / Creston, Time, "Biden's Holiday Pitch to Iowa: I'm the Best Candidate to Beat Trump," 23 Dec. 2019 Chan said antipathy toward Hong Kong spiked in August after protesters shut the airport and attacked two men from mainland China. — BostonGlobe.com, "HONG KONG — It was the second day of Golden Week, usually one of Hong Kong’s busiest shopping periods, and Matthew Tam and his co-workers at a jewelry store were looking as lonely as a band of Maytag repairmen, surrounded by display cases of luxury watches with nary a customer in sight.," 14 Oct. 2019 Some of the popular antipathy towards Herod’s claims to Jewishness, however, had xenophobic roots. — Anne Thériault, Longreads, "Queens of Infamy: Mariamne I," 18 Dec. 2019 Social media is also driving pro-impeachment messaging, tapping into deep wells of liberal antipathy to Trump. — Anchorage Daily News, "Fact-based impeachment can’t penetrate the pro-Trump Web," 14 Dec. 2019 The survey results also indicated the antipathy didn’t spread to GOP Gov. Mike DeWine, who had a net 3.3% negative job approval rating – within the margin of error. — cleveland, "Ohio poll shows Donald Trump behind Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren in possible 2020 matchups," 3 Oct. 2019 Such resentments are infused with racial antipathies since poor, black, and brown are synonymous to many Americans. — Maria Kefalas, STAT, "Medicaid covers sick or dying children. But it takes ‘going to battle’ to get it," 2 Dec. 2019 And this could translate into more antipathy toward the out-group and its leader. — Wired, "Empathy Is Tearing Us Apart," 9 Nov. 2019

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.

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Last Updated

19 Jan 2020

Cite this Entry

“Antipathy.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/antipathy. Accessed 24 January 2020.

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