animus

[an-uh-muhs]

noun

1. strong dislike or enmity; hostile attitude; animosity.

2. motivating purpose or intention; animating spirit.

3. (in the psychology of C. G. Jung) the masculine principle, especially as present in women.

animus

/ ˈænɪməs /

noun

1. intense dislike; hatred; animosity

2. motive, intention, or purpose

3. (in Jungian psychology) the masculine principle present in the female unconscious See also anima

Word History and Origins

Origin of animus¹

First recorded in 1810–20; from Latin: literally, “mind, spirit, courage, passion, wrath”; akin to Greek ánemos “wind”; anima

Word History and Origins

Origin of animus¹

C19: from Latin: mind, spirit

Example Sentences

Officials added: “This is a case study of billboard law firms trying to turn family resemblance into racial animus to collect clicks, clout, and cash.”

From Los Angeles Times

The show’s final segments revealed that the petty, personal politics of the right-wing’s biggest media personalities are a driving animus that seems almost blinding.

From Salon

It was also “motivated by unconstitutional animus,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

As of Wednesday night, the main animus seems to be between the US and China who are flinging ever-increasing tariffs at each other.

From BBC

As O’Toole also observes, Trump’s anti-European animus has a potent psychosexual subtext, simultaneously rooted in right-wing American macho posturing and his own infantile sense of narcissistic injury.

From Salon