animus

noun

ˈa-nə-məs How to pronounce animus (audio)
Definition of animusnext
as in hostility
a deep-seated ill will feeling no animus toward those who had wronged her

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 Children of the 1960s may recall that even within the militant activist group, Students for Democratic Society (SDS), animus was frequently directed not at the establishment but at fellow antiwar advocates. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 28 June 2026 In the Temporary Protected Status case, the legal issue there was how to interpret the law that created that program, and with also the side issue of whether racial animus was involved. — Dana Taylor, USA Today, 26 June 2026 And by a blinkered nonrecognition of the animus behind Noem’s action. — George F. Will, Washington Post, 26 June 2026 Typical of rape survivors, black women were freighted with a particular kind of animus. — Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 15 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for animus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for animus
  1. hostility
  2. grudge
  3. hatred
Noun
  • Iran doubled down on its demands for reopening the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, insisting that the US and its allies unfreeze its assets and end hostilities across the region.
    — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • As the specter of rising interest rates and hostilities in the Middle East remain wildcards, skeptics are holding firm.
    — Bloomberg, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of hostility
Noun
  • Christian, convinced a nobleman had done it, had the man executed without much proof, a grudge that helped cost him his crown a few years later.
    — Winston Ross, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • Lynn Rogers, who served as Kelly’s first lieutenant governor and was later appointed state treasurer, said Lawrence is somebody who holds onto grudges.
    — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026
Definition of grudge
Noun
  • The is mostly a political one that the far-right uses to stoke prejudice and hatred against a community already victimized by that and bullying.
    — Greg Cote August 9, Miami Herald, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Nordic noir suggests the presence of violence and hatred beneath the tranquillity and order of the Scandinavian welfare state, just as Southern noir peels back hospitality and charm to reveal repressed family secrets and moral decay.
    — Peter C. Baker, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of hatred

Browse Nearby Words

animosity
animus
aniseikonia
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Cite this Entry

“Animus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/animus. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on animus

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about animus

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