antipathetic

[ an-ti-puh-thet-ik, an-tahy- ]

adjective

1. opposed, averse, or contrary; having or showing antipathy:

   They were antipathetic to many of the proposed changes

2. causing or likely to cause antipathy:

   The new management was antipathetic to all of us.

antipathetic

/ ænˌtɪpəˈθɛtɪk; ˌæntɪpə- /

adjective

1. often foll by to having or arousing a strong aversion

Derived Forms

• ˌantipaˈthetically, adverb

Other Words From

• an·ti·pa·thet·i·cal·ly adverb
• an·ti·pa·thet·i·cal·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of antipathetic¹

1630–40; < Greek antipathḗs opposed in feeling ( anti- + -pathēs, adj. derivative of páthos pathos ), with -etic by analogy with pathetic

Example Sentences

Not only is her singing raucous but her characterization is off-putting, even antipathetic.

From Los Angeles Times

The United Nations, a flawed and often toothless organization, nonetheless represents international ideals antipathetic to the ongoing atrocity of human bondage.

From Washington Post

It would be more of a problem if I were unreasonably antipathetic toward, say, obeying traffic laws.

From Washington Post

I had a theoretical reverence and homage for beauty, elegance, gallantry, fascination; but had I met those qualities incarnate in masculine shape, I should have known instinctively that they neither had nor could have sympathy with anything in me, and should have shunned them as one would fire, lightning, or anything else that is bright but antipathetic.

From Literature

Can people who make calculated use of the charge to manipulate other people's fears, genuinely feel threatened by anti-Semitism, or wholly antipathetic to it?

From Salon