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

And, for reasons that no one can fully explain, Trump views offshore with particular animus, and the administration has made special efforts to slow the industry. —Justin Worland, Time, 13 June 2025

There’s the undercurrent of politics stirring animus between the neighbors, with Canadians angered by President Donald Trump’s tariffs and his absurd aside saying perhaps Canada should be the 51st U.S. state. —Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 5 June 2025

The merger of Skydance and Paramount, which seemed a sure bet at the start of the year, has entered murkier territory thanks in large part to President Donald Trump’s animus toward CBS News. —Dade Hayes, Deadline, 3 June 2025

But then Trump’s more specific animus toward Harvard found a new outlet, with the Department of Homeland Security trying to take away the university’s ability to enroll international students and ordering those now at the school — some 27 percent of its student body — to transfer. —Lexi Lonas Cochran, The Hill, 30 May 2025

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