Synonyms of animus

animus

noun

ˈa-nə-məs 

as in hostility

a deep-seated ill will

feeling no animus toward those who had wronged her

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hostility
• grudge
• hatred
• bitterness
• antagonism
• animosity
• rancor
• enmity
• antipathy
• tension
• malice
• feud
• jaundice
• friction
• gall
• bad blood
• vendetta
• discord
• vindictiveness
• alienation
• virulence
• loathing
• disaffection
• score
• hate
• blood feud
• vitriol
• conflict
• spite
• estrangement
• venom
• malignity
• unfriendliness
• malignancy
• spitefulness
• coolness
• strain
• inhospitableness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• amity
• hospitality
• cordiality
• friendliness
• sympathy
• civility
• friendship
• understanding
• empathy
• neighborliness
• amiability
• goodwill
• comity
• amicability

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun animus differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of animus are animosity, antagonism, antipathy, enmity, hostility, and rancor. While all these words mean "deep-seated dislike or ill will," animus adds to animosity the implication of strong prejudice.

objections devoid of personal animus

When is animosity a more appropriate choice than animus?

The synonyms animosity and animus are sometimes interchangeable, but animosity suggests intense ill will and vindictiveness that threaten to kindle hostility.

animosity that led to revenge

How do antipathy and antagonism relate to one another, in the sense of animus?

Both 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

When would enmity be a good substitute for animus?

The words enmity and animus can be used in similar contexts, but enmity suggests positive hatred which may be open or concealed.

an unspoken enmity

When might hostility be a better fit than animus?

While in some cases nearly identical to animus, hostility suggests an enmity showing itself in attacks or aggression.

hostility between the two nations

When is it sensible to use rancor instead of animus?

While the synonyms rancor and animus are close in meaning, rancor is especially applied to bitter brooding over a wrong.

rancor filled every line of his letters

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of animus

The South African government has stridently denied allegations of systemic racial animus, as has a coalition of white religious leaders in the region that includes many Anglicans. —Jack Jenkins, NPR, 12 May 2025

How is that anything other than showing animus? ... —Anna Commander gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025

Judge Neomi Rao asked if the lower court judge, Judge Ana Reyes, erred by finding that Trump’s and Hegseth’s policies showed animus toward all transgender people. —Ashley Oliver, The Washington Examiner, 22 Apr. 2025

On April 24, attorney Abbe Lowell sent a letter to the Justice Department arguing the accusations against James are meritless and that they are motivated by Trump's personal animus towards James. —Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 9 May 2025

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