What does antipathy mean?
Antipathy is a noun denoting a deep, settled feeling of dislike, aversion, or hostility directed at a person, group, idea, or thing. Unlike fleeting irritation, antipathy suggests something ingrained and enduring — an instinctive recoil that may persist over time. It sits above ordinary dislike in intensity but below open hatred, occupying the space of persistent, often unspoken opposition. The word carries a formal or literary tone and appears frequently in discussions of politics, personal relations, and matters of taste, as in 'a lifelong antipathy to bureaucracy'. Grammatically it behaves as a countable noun with plural 'antipathies'. Its Greek roots make it etymologically fascinating: it shares the root 'pathos' (feeling) with sympathy, empathy, and apathy, meaning that words for feeling with others and feeling against them grew from the same source. Knowing antipathy gives writers and speakers a precise term for aversion that is deep-rooted rather than momentary.
nounA deep-seated feeling of aversion, dislike, or hostility toward someone or something.
- A settled, often instinctive feeling of intense dislike or aversion toward a person, group, idea, or thing.
"He felt an instinctive antipathy toward dishonesty of any kind."
"Her antipathy toward the new policy was evident in every meeting."
"Despite years of cooperation, a quiet antipathy lingered between the two families."
The plural is used when referring to multiple distinct dislikes or aversions held by a person or group.
"His memoir catalogued the antipathies he had accumulated over a long career."
Antipathy and sympathy come from the exact same Greek root 'pathos' (feeling) — one word means feeling against, the other feeling with.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of antipathy
Antipathy derives from the Greek 'antipatheia', formed from 'anti-' (against) and 'patheia/pathos' (feeling), literally meaning 'feeling against'. It entered English in the early 17th century, likely via Latin or French transmission. It is a true cognate of sympathy ('feeling with'), empathy ('feeling into'), and apathy ('without feeling'), all built on the same Greek root pathos.
How antipathy is actually used
Antipathy is a formal or literary register word, stronger than mere dislike but typically implying a settled, enduring aversion rather than an outburst of anger. It frequently appears with 'toward', 'for', or 'between' and is common in discussions of personal relationships, politics, and taste.
Easily confused with antipathy
Antipathy is active dislike or aversion, while apathy is a lack of interest or feeling altogether.
Sympathy means feeling compassion for someone, whereas antipathy means feeling strong dislike — they are near-opposites despite sharing the same Greek root.