enmity

noun

en·​mi·​ty ˈen-mə-tē 

plural enmities

: positive, active, and typically mutual hatred or ill will

There's a long history of enmity between them.

… as personal enmities go, they don't get much more vicious than this.

—Richard Innes

Did you know?

The resemblance between enmity and enemy is no coincidence: both words come from the Anglo-French word enemi, which literally translates to "enemy." And when you feel enmity for a particular person—that is, deep-seated dislike or ill will—"enemy" may very well be an apt descriptor for them. While it is possible to feel enmity for someone who does not share or return one’s animosity, enmity is typically used for mutual hatred or antagonism between people (or groups, factions, etc.), as when Edgar Allan Poe wrote of the families of Berlifitzing and Metzengerstein in his first published short story: "Never before were two houses so illustrious, mutually embittered by hostility so deadly. The origin of this enmity seems to be found in the words of an ancient prophecy—'A lofty name shall have a fearful fall ...'"

Synonyms of enmity

• 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

Plus, analysts say, Trump’s enmity toward CEO Brian Roberts gives the Ellisons — who are palsy with the president — a better shot at getting a deal cleared. —Todd Spangler, Variety, 24 Oct. 2025

Among the crowds, which have on occasion contained tens of thousands, there have been displays of violent antisemitic sentiment, as well as language that conflates enmity toward Israel, Zionism and Jews themselves. —Alex Holmes, NBC news, 3 Oct. 2025

The Spaniard’s infamous on-track clash with Rossi in Malaysia back in 2015 created a lasting enmity towards Márquez from both Rossi himself and the Italian’s many loyal fans, a source of frustration for the 2025 champion’s Ducati team. —Jonathan Hawkins, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025

Julie, who joined Todd in the confessional interview, noted that the enmity between their eldest children hits particularly hard, given the loss of her brother Trey Hughes in 2002. —Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

enmity

noun

en·​mi·​ty ˈen-mət-ē 

plural enmities

: a very deep unfriendly feeling : hatred