antipathy

noun

an·​tip·​a·​thy an-ˈti-pə-thē 

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

Synonyms

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

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

Examples of antipathy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

All the losing, the antipathy toward Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf and the lack of any true stars have factored into the current malaise. —Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2025

Despite his deep, deep antipathy toward Netanyahu, Trump understands the transactional nature of his relationship with those voters who prioritize Israel’s future over any domestic U.S. priorities. —Philip Elliott, Time, 17 June 2025

However the Levada center polling shows shows that this antipathy towards the U.S. is not shared by most Russians, which could be a backdrop to a thawing of ties between the countries since President Donald Trump came into office. —Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 June 2025

But focusing on Ukraine gives short shrift to the many political, economic, and strategic interests that Putin and Xi share—chief among them a mutual antipathy toward the United States. —Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 30 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Kids Definition

antipathy

noun

an·​tip·​a·​thy an-ˈtip-ə-thē 

plural antipathies

1

: a strong dislike

2

: a person or thing that arouses strong dislike

antipathetic

ˌant-i-pə-ˈthet-ik

adjective

Medical Definition

antipathy

noun

an·​tip·​a·​thy an-ˈtip-ə-thē 

plural antipathies

1

: settled aversion or dislike

2

: an object of aversion

antipathic

ˌant-i-ˈpath-ik 

adjective