ANIMUS Synonyms: 52 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

animus

noun

ˈa-nə-məs

Definition of animus next

as in hostility

a deep-seated ill will feeling no animus toward those who had wronged her

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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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of animus But the extreme measures the company is taking reflects a particular level of animus expressed by Trump over the years. —

Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 11 Jan. 2025 Between the lines: Even the language of the new policy itself suggests animus against gay and trans people. —

Ina Fried, Axios, 9 Jan. 2025 Trump’s first presidency and the Covid-19 pandemic took anti-government animus mainstream. —

Tess Owen, WIRED, 2 Dec. 2024 Still, there’s no comparable Israel animus with Vermont in other small-population states with one House member and two senators — Alaska, Delaware, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. —

Mike Wagenheim, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 29 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for animus

Recent Examples of Synonyms for animus

Noun

International pressure is growing as the United Nations urged both sides to prevent a resurgence of hostilities.

— Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025
Soon, hundreds of thousands of Gazans would enter Israel daily for work, and Gaza's economy became tied to Israel's, but hostility persisted.

— Efrat Lachter, Fox News, 5 Feb. 2025