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antipathy

noun
an·​tip·​a·​thy | \ an-ˈti-pÉ™-thÄ“ How to pronounce antipathy (audio) \
plural antipathies

Definition of antipathy

1 : a strong feeling of dislike an antipathy to taxes a deep antipathy between the groups
2 : something disliked : an object of aversion … perhaps his greatest antipathies were cabs, old women, doors that would not shut …— Charles Dickens
3 obsolete : opposition in feeling
Other Words from antipathy Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about antipathy

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Choose the Right Synonym for antipathy

enmity, hostility, antipathy, antagonism, animosity, rancor, animus mean deep-seated dislike or ill will. enmity suggests positive hatred which may be open or concealed. an unspoken enmity hostility suggests an enmity showing itself in attacks or aggression. hostility between the two nations 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 animosity suggests intense ill will and vindictiveness that threaten to kindle hostility. animosity that led to revenge rancor is especially applied to bitter brooding over a wrong. rancor filled every line of his letters animus adds to animosity the implication of strong prejudice. objections devoid of personal animus

Did You Know?

When the nation of Yugoslavia was created in 1945, it combined a number of ethnic groups with a history of violent antipathy toward each other. In 1991–92 four regions of the country announced that they would become independent nations; a bloody six-year war followed, fueled by these ancient and powerful antipathies. The American Civil War similarly resulted from antipathy between the North and the South. But in the U.S.'s relations with its next-door neighbors, it's been a long time since emotions have gotten much stronger than annoyance.

Examples of antipathy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 The restaurant helped transform antipathy toward the World Trade Center into acceptance, making the complex an essential part of the city’s identity. — Tom Roston, Time, "The Untold Story of an Undocumented Immigrant Family Torn Apart by 9/11," 9 Sep. 2019 Even the youngest royals seem to have inherited their family’s antipathy. — K.j. Yossman, Marie Claire, "Inside the Cutthroat World of Royal Gossips," 5 Sep. 2019 To some, visiting the museum allows them to find the solace, inspiration and hope that the current poisonous political partisanship and racial antipathy will one day be overcome. — Peggy Mcglone, Washington Post, "What happened when Trump visited the African American History Museum, according to its founding director," 30 Aug. 2019 While this kind of polarization is often useful in helping voters identify a clear party of the left and right, partisanship today has resulted not in more trust in parties, but more antipathy. — Didi Kuo, Vox, "Challenges to parties in the United States and beyond," 20 June 2019 The haul is a sign of just how deep Democratic antipathy toward McConnell, the Senate majority leader, runs in the Trump era. — NBC News, "McGrath raises a record $2.5 million on first day of Senate campaign," 5 Feb. 2019 The same president who evokes such deep affection from you and your friends evokes equally deep antipathy from others. — Chris Stirewalt, Fox News, "Nuggets from the passing parade," 17 Aug. 2018 Rather, they were unified by nothing so much as antipathy to America’s growing diversity, and an attendant feeling that whites were losing ground. — The Economist, "The 2020 campaign will be more racially divisive than 2016 was," 18 July 2019 Public health group Wellcome is out with a wide-ranging report finding that some regions of the world have deeply concerning ambivalence, and even antipathy, toward vaccines. — Sy Mukherjee, Fortune, "Google, Pharma Giant Sanofi Team Up to Discover Drugs: Brainstorm Health," 19 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'antipathy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of antipathy

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 3

History and Etymology for antipathy

Latin antipathia, from Greek antipatheia, from antipathēs of opposite feelings, from anti- + pathos experience — more at pathos

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More Definitions for antipathy

antipathy

noun
an·​tip·​a·​thy | \ an-ˈti-pÉ™-thÄ“ How to pronounce antipathy (audio) \
plural antipathies

Kids Definition of antipathy

: a strong feeling of dislike

antipathy

noun
an·​tip·​a·​thy | \ an-ˈtip-É™-thÄ“ How to pronounce antipathy (audio) \
plural antipathies

Medical Definition of antipathy

1 : settled aversion or dislike
2 : an object of aversion

Other Words from antipathy

antipathic \ ËŒant-​i-​ˈpath-​ik How to pronounce antipathic (audio) \ adjective

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More from Merriam-Webster on antipathy

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for antipathy

Spanish Central: Translation of antipathy

Nglish: Translation of antipathy for Spanish Speakers

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