Antipathy
mediumNegative tonean-TIP-uh-thee
noun
Definition
a deep, settled feeling of dislike or aversion
Memory hook
ANTI + symPATHY: the opposite of sympathy is a strong, gut-level dislike.
Word roots
anti— against(Greek)
pathos— feeling(Greek)
Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.
Examples
“Years of broken promises bred a quiet antipathy that no apology could undo.”
“His antipathy toward crowded parties kept him home most weekends.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“Years of broken promises bred a quiet ______ that no apology could undo.”
Show answer
antipathy
Synonyms
Antonyms
affinityfondnesssympathyattraction
Categories
GRE Tip
Antipathy is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "aversion" or "hostility" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "affinity".
Related GRE Words
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