animosity Definition
ani·mos·ity (an′ə mäs′ə tē)
noun pl. -·ties
a feeling of strong dislike or hatred; ill will; hostility
Etymology: ME animosite < L animositas, boldness, spirit < animosus, spirited < animus: see animus
animosity Synonyms
animosity Usage Examples
Converse of object
- arouse: What had aroused such animosity among the revolutionaries to make such a public show of burning this artifact?
- grow: The group was formed in June after Congress became concerned about growing animosity to the United States, especially among Arabs and Muslims abroad.
- avoid: This was important in gaining their support for the move and avoiding any animosity.
- feel: Most do not feel animosity toward their families for sending them into bonded labor.
- create: Did isolationists create such animosity toward America among our closest allies in the Muslim world?
- cause: I just hope that it doesn't cause any animosity between the two sets of fans.
Preposition: against
Christian: The pontiff expressed concern the next day that a war in Iraq could stir Muslim animosity against Christians.
Converse of subject
motivate: Sure, some participants are motivated by animosity or disgust.
Preposition: between
- people: There is much animosity between the people of Argostoli and Lixouri across the bay.
- supporter: If they are just to cause animosity between rival supporters they will be edited.
- man: He came to reconcile all men and the whole universe to make peace where there was animosity between man and God.
- woman: Tackling the animosity between the women, Mikey explained that he had had mixed experienced with Aisleyne himself.
- management: In some cases, there was animosity between plant management and inspectors.
Adjective modifier
- racial: The Negro soldiers feel keenly about the frequent show of racial animosity.
- mutual: Across swathes of domestic policy, the mutual animosity has been the ally of stasis.
- personal: He often stops the evil schemes of his father without personal animosity.
- political: The Washington Post went on to say that 'what's remarkable here isn't Moore's political animosity, or ticklish wit.
- old: He had found the last few weeks hard, old animosities toward him stirred by the tensions in the Camp.
- great: And thirdly, he was a great soldier who did not flee in the face of great, great animosity and opposition.
Noun used with modifier
class: To what extent can peasant revolts in the early modern period be explained by class animosities?

