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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.
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.
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
The top echelon of Pete Hegseth’s Pentagon has dissolved into a circle of mutual recrimination and enmity worthy of a Mexican standoff from a Quentin Tarantino film.
—The Editors, National Review, 28 Apr. 2025
The talks seek to limit Iran's nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of some of the crushing economic sanctions the U.S. has imposed on the Islamic Republic closing in on a half-century of enmity.
—Arkansas Online, 27 Apr. 2025
But Hardy’s performance in Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s film about the enmity between his character and Leonardo DiCaprio’s Hugh Glass, whom Fitzgerald secretly tries to kill, is all in the eyes.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2025
There is a long history of bitter enmity between Hamas and Fatah.
—Ibrahim Dahman, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for enmity
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The Editors, National Review, 28 Apr. 2025
The talks seek to limit Iran's nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of some of the crushing economic sanctions the U.S. has imposed on the Islamic Republic closing in on a half-century of enmity.
—Arkansas Online, 27 Apr. 2025
But Hardy’s performance in Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s film about the enmity between his character and Leonardo DiCaprio’s Hugh Glass, whom Fitzgerald secretly tries to kill, is all in the eyes.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2025
There is a long history of bitter enmity between Hamas and Fatah.
—Ibrahim Dahman, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for enmity
Cite this Entry
“Enmity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enmity. Accessed 13 May. 2025.
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