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enmity was our Word of the Day on 10/17/2007. Hear the podcast!
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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 of enmity from the Web
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This special report will seek to unravel the causes of this irrational enmity, and to explore the contrasting internal dynamics in both countries that sustain it.
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Most of all, his desire to stay true to the Declaration of Independence and its promise of equality in an improved future, rather than an idealized past, is a reminder that Americans have defined themselves by more than their enmities.
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The matchup between one of baseball’s best teams and one of its worst is hardly a major headline, but now there’s some enmity between them with two games left in the series.
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Determined to see Carthage restored to its former glory, Hamilcar made his eldest son, Hannibal, swear lifelong enmity to the republic.
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But there's little sign the Trump administration plans to drop the Obama-era positions that spurred new enmity between the Cold War-era rivals.
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The conflicts have deepened Sunni-Shiite enmity between hard-liners on both sides.
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Despite its longstanding enmity toward the United States and its allies, North Korea remains deeply sensitive to outside criticism of its human rights record, billing itself as a righteous nation that respects international norms.
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That earned it enmity in Saudi Arabia, which ordered its offices closed as part of the freeze on Qatar.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'enmity.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
Enmity and its synonyms "hostility," animosity, and animus all indicate deep-seated dislike or ill will. Enmity (which derives from an Anglo-French word meaning "enemy") suggests true hatred, either overt or concealed. Hostility implies strong, open enmity that shows itself in attacks or aggression. Animosity carries the sense of anger, vindictiveness, and sometimes the desire to destroy what one hates. Animus is generally less violent than animosity, but definitely conveys active prejudice or ill will.
Origin and Etymology of enmity
Middle English enmite, from Anglo-French enemité, enemisté, from enemi enemy
Synonym Discussion of enmity
ENMITY Defined for English Language Learners
enmity
playDefinition of enmity for English Language Learners
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: a very deep unfriendly feeling
ENMITY Defined for Kids
Learn More about enmity
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for enmity Spanish Central: Translation of enmity Nglish: Translation of enmity for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of enmity for Arabic speakers
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