Antipathy is a strong feeling of dislike or opposition toward something or someone. It's an intense aversion that runs deep, making you want to avoid or resist whatever triggers it.

You might feel antipathy toward a food you really can't stand, where something about it genuinely repels you beyond mere taste preference. A student might develop antipathy toward a subject after struggling with it repeatedly, coming to dread it rather than simply finding it difficult. When two people have antipathy toward each other, they experience mutual dislike that makes working together extremely uncomfortable.

The word often describes reactions that feel almost instinctive. Someone might feel immediate antipathy toward cruelty or dishonesty, a gut-level rejection that doesn't require much thought. Historical rivals sometimes harbored antipathy that lasted for generations.

Antipathy is stronger than simple disagreement. You might disagree with a friend's opinion about the best pizza topping without any antipathy at all. But if you feel genuine antipathy toward something, you experience a visceral negative reaction, a sense that whatever it is goes against your nature or values. The opposite of antipathy is sympathy or affinity, when you feel drawn toward something rather than repelled by it.