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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.
Synonyms
Examples of enmity in a Sentence
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.
The Arizona Republic, 27 June 2024
The mutual enmity between the current president and his predecessor will naturally color the tone and substance of whatever unfolds Thursday evening in an Atlanta TV studio.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 26 June 2024
Dale and Sadie already hate each other for reasons of competitiveness — whoever covers the candidate who wins the primary might get a shot at the White House beat — and the natural enmity that lies between twinks and ingénues who wear quirky hats.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 29 Mar. 2024
The goal was significantly more expansive: the isolation and world enmity of Israel and its United States sponsor.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 5 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for enmity 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'enmity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near enmity
Cite this Entry
“Enmity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enmity. Accessed 14 Jul. 2024.
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