enmity

enmity

 
noun|EN-muh-tee
 
What It Means
 
Enmity is a formal word that refers to a very deep unfriendly feeling, such as hatred or ill will, that is often felt mutually.
 
// Having to collaborate on the project only increased the bitter enmity between the two coworkers, who had never gotten along.

enmity
noun
en·;mi·;ty ;en-m;-t;
pluralenmities
Synonyms of enmity
: positive, active, and typically mutual hatred or ill will


Did you know?
The resemblance between enmity and enemy is no coincidence: both words come from the Anglo-French word enemi, which literally translates to "enemy." And when you feel enmity for a particular person—that is, deep-seated dislike or ill will—"enemy" may very well be an apt descriptor for them. While it is possible to feel enmity for someone who does not share or return one’s animosity, enmity is typically used for mutual hatred or antagonism between people (or groups, factions, etc.), as when Edgar Allan Poe wrote of the families of Berlifitzing and Metzengerstein in his first published short story: "Never before were two houses so illustrious, mutually embittered by hostility so deadly. The origin of this enmity seems to be found in the words of an ancient prophecy—'A lofty name shall have a fearful fall ...'"

Synonyms
hostility
grudge
hatred
bitterness
Choose the Right Synonym for enmity

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
Examples of enmity in a Sentence
Bin Laden may no longer be supplying directions and funding, but his ethos of enmity lives on.
—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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More
Julie, who joined Todd in the confessional interview, noted that the enmity between their eldest children hits particularly hard, given the loss of her brother Trey Hughes in 2002.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Sep. 2025
The final contest between Ali and Frazier was the culmination of a relationship that had begun in friendship but curdled into deep enmity, the decisive battle in a war that had become larger than the two men in the ring.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
Too much of today’s public discourse, especially online, fosters enmity instead of empathy.
—Russell M. Nelson, Time, 5 Sep. 2025
While there’s no love triangle, The Long Walk treats its allegiances and enmities with a grandeur that rivals any romance, especially the connection between its hero, Ray Garraty (Cooper Hoffman), and his friend Peter McVries (David Jonsson).
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025

Word History
Etymology
Middle English enmite, from Anglo-French enemit;, enemist;, from enemi enemy

First Known Use
13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of enmity was in the 13th century
See more words from the same century
Browse Nearby Words
enmesh
enmity
enmove
Articles Related to enmity
Love It or Hate It
Prove you’ve got a passion for words.
Is it 'deep-seated' or 'deep-seeded'?
Diving deep into a modern usage problem

Podcast
Cover Image
enmity
 
 
 
 
 Subscribe
Subscribe
 Amazon Music
 Apple Podcasts
 Spotify
 Stitcher
 RSS
 Download

00:00 / 02:01
 Privacy Policy
Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!
Your email address
Sign Up
Cite this Entry
Style

MLA
“Enmity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enmity. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.

Copy Citation
Share
Kids Definition
enmity

noun
en·;mi·;ty ;en-m;t-;
pluralenmities
: a very deep unfriendly feeling : hatred