antipathy
C1Formal
Definition
Meaning
A strong, deep-seated feeling of dislike, aversion, or hostility.
A natural or inherent incompatibility, opposition, or repugnancy between things (e.g., between concepts, substances, or people).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies a deep-seated, instinctive, or long-held aversion, not a fleeting dislike. It is typically non-reciprocal (one party feels it).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent.
Connotations
Consistently formal and strong in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally formal and less common than simpler words like 'dislike' or 'hatred' in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
have/feel/harbour an antipathy to/toward(s)/against/for somebody/somethingan antipathy between A and BVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A well of antipathy”
- “To nurse an antipathy”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe deep-seated hostility between competing executives or companies (e.g., 'The merger failed due to the personal antipathy between the CEOs').
Academic
Common in political science, sociology, and history to describe group conflicts or ideological oppositions (e.g., 'The study examined the historical antipathy between the two ethnic groups').
Everyday
Rare in casual speech; used for emphasis in describing a powerful, ingrained dislike (e.g., 'I have a real antipathy to raw tomatoes').
Technical
In medicine/psychology, can describe an adverse reaction or inherent incompatibility (e.g., 'an antipathy between the two drugs').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The verb form is not standard. Use 'dislike', 'detest', or 'loathe'.
American English
- The verb form is not standard. Use 'dislike', 'detest', or 'loathe'.
adverb
British English
- He looked at the proposal antipathetically, seeing only its flaws.
American English
- He reviewed the proposal antipathetically, focusing only on its drawbacks.
adjective
British English
- She gave him an antipathetic glare across the room.
- Their antipathetic views made cooperation impossible.
American English
- She gave him an antipathetic glare across the room.
- Their antipathetic views made collaboration impossible.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He felt a strong antipathy towards the new manager.
- There has always been a deep antipathy between the two rival factions within the party.
- Her antipathy for modern art is well-known among her friends.
- The cultural antipathy rooted in centuries of conflict proved difficult for diplomats to overcome.
- Despite their professional respect, a personal antipathy coloured all their interactions.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'ANTI-PATHY' – you are ANTI (against) feeling PATHY (sympathy) for someone/something.
Conceptual Metaphor
ANTIPATHY IS A BARRIER/WALL; ANTIPATHY IS A BITTER TASTE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not 'antipatiya' (which means 'unpleasantness' or 'dislike' but is weaker and more casual).
- Closer to 'otvrashcheniye' (отвращение) or 'nenavist' (ненависть) in strength, but more formal and often less active.
Common Mistakes
- Using it for a mild dislike (too strong).
- Using it as a synonym for 'disagreement' (it's about feeling, not opinion).
- Incorrect preposition: 'antipathy of' (use 'to/toward(s)/for/against').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'antipathy' CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, significantly. Antipathy implies a deep-seated, often instinctive aversion, whereas 'dislike' is more general and can be mild.
Yes, it can be described as 'mutual antipathy', meaning both parties feel a strong aversion towards each other.
'Towards' (UK) and 'toward' (US) are very common, but 'to', 'for', and 'against' are also correct (e.g., antipathy to change, antipathy for formalism).
While grammatically possible, the adjective 'antipathetic' is very rare. It's more natural to say 'I have an antipathy to/towards something' or 'I am opposed/averse to something'.