antipathetic

adjective

an·​ti·​pa·​thet·​ic ˌan-ti-pə-ˈthe-tik 

(ˌ)an-ˌti-pə-

1

: having a natural aversion

also : not sympathetic : hostile

a government antipathetic to democracy

2

: arousing antipathy

antipathetically

ˌan-ti-pə-ˈthe-ti-k(ə-)lē 

(ˌ)an-ˌti-pə-

adverb

Synonyms of antipathetic

• allergic

Examples of antipathetic in a Sentence

a series of adventure books that turned boys who had been antipathetic to reading into avid readers

the mayor has always had an openly antipathetic relationship with the local press

Recent Examples on the Web

The picture is rumored to be portraying Altman as a pathological liar and Musk (Ike Barinholtz) as highly antipathetic. — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 21 June 2026

Not only is her singing raucous but her characterization is off-putting, even antipathetic. — Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2024

Yet despite highly antipathetic rhetoric from progressive European lawmakers, SUV popularity among the continent’s citizens is only rising. — Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 5 Feb. 2024

Presuming that In-Yun surpasses traditional Western romance, Song goes for antipathetic lovelessness. — Armond White, National Review, 8 Dec. 2023

The United Nations, a flawed and often toothless organization, nonetheless represents international ideals antipathetic to the ongoing atrocity of human bondage. — Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 23 Mar. 2023

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin antipathēticus, borrowed from Middle Greek antipathētikós, from Greek anti- anti- + pathētikós "capable of feeling" — more at pathetic

First Known Use

1640, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for antipathetic

• aeromagnetic
• antiemetic
• apologetic
• biogenetic
• biomimetic
• biosynthetic
• cytogenetic
• diagenetic
• diamagnetic
• diaphoretic
• epigenetic
• ferromagnetic

Medical Definition

antipathetic

adjective

an·​ti·​pa·​thet·​ic ˌant-i-pə-ˈthet-ik 

1

: having a natural opposition to something

an immune response which can be both antipathetic to the tumour … and protective

—Nature

2

: inducing or characterized by antipathy