harbor animosity toward

USAGE SUMMARY

'harbor animosity toward' is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation when someone has strong feelings of anger, resentment, or hatred toward someone or something. For example, "The opposing political party continues to harbor animosity toward the current administration".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

It says they no longer harbor animosity toward each other".

The New York Times

Egyptians have long supported the idea of a Palestinian state, and many harbor animosity toward Israel, fueled by a succession of Arab-Israeli wars.

The Washington Post

I spoke to Dave Fuscus, the president of Xenophon, a corporate PR firm with clients that certainly don't harbor animosity toward the free market, and Meath's current employer.

The Washington Post

It is unclear what fresh insight we are meant to gain from your June 25 front-page report ("View From New York Streets: No Retreat by Police") that adolescent men who congregate on the street to smoke marijuana and drink alcohol harbor animosity toward the police who arrest them for it.

The New York Times

They remain staunch nationalists seeking Chechen independence and the majority do not harbor animosity toward the United States, a country that has repeatedly criticized Russia's tactics in the Caucasus and granted asylum to leaders of the Chechen resistance. .

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Sibley told HuffPost that he is filing his lawsuits not because he harbors animosity toward Obama but because he seeks to defend the rule of law.

Huffington Post

I don't harbor any animosity toward them at all".

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Anthony said he harbored no animosity toward Mr. Woods.

The New York Times

The defendants, they said, harbored no animosity toward gays.

The New York Times

The woman, he said, harbors no animosity toward Mr. Weiner, either.

The New York Times

Collier said he harbored no animosity toward the person who tried to kill him.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the intensity of feeling you want to convey. While "harbor animosity toward" suggests strong dislike, other options such as "dislike intensely" or "resent" might be more appropriate for milder situations.

Common error

Avoid using "harbor animosity toward" to describe mild disagreements or fleeting frustrations. The phrase implies a deeply rooted, sustained feeling of ill will. If the situation involves only a minor or temporary issue, choose a less intense expression like "dislike" or "be annoyed by".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "harbor animosity toward" functions as a verb phrase. It describes the action of holding onto feelings of resentment or hostility towards a person or thing, according to Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "harbor animosity toward" describes a situation where someone holds onto feelings of resentment or hostility. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. While the phrase itself is neutral, the concept it describes involves strong negative feelings. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts. When using this phrase, it's important to consider the intensity of the emotion you want to convey and avoid using it for mild disagreements. Alternatives such as "hold a grudge against" or "bear resentment towards" can be used to express similar sentiments with varying degrees of intensity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

bear resentment towards

Replaces "animosity" with "resentment" while keeping the same structure.

have hostile feelings towards

Replaces "animosity" with a more descriptive phrase.

hold a grudge against

Uses a more informal idiom to convey resentment.

feel bitter about

Simplifies the expression, focusing on the feeling of bitterness.

have it in for

An idiomatic way to describe having a persistent negative attitude.

nurse a hatred for

Emphasizes the active cultivation of hatred.

be ill-disposed to

A formal way to express a negative attitude.

resent

A concise way to express the feeling of animosity.

hold a negative view of

Focuses on the negative perception rather than the emotion.

dislike intensely

A more general term expressing strong negative feelings.

FAQs

How can I use "harbor animosity toward" in a sentence?

You can use "harbor animosity toward" to describe someone holding onto feelings of resentment or ill will. For example, "Despite the apology, she continued to harbor animosity toward her former colleague."

What are some alternatives to "harbor animosity toward"?

Alternatives include "hold a grudge against", "bear resentment towards", or "feel bitter about", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it correct to say "harbor animosity against" instead of "harbor animosity toward"?

While "toward" and "towards" are often interchangeable, "harbor animosity toward" is more common in contemporary usage. "Harbor animosity against" is less frequent and may sound slightly awkward to some native English speakers.

What is the difference between "harbor animosity toward" and "dislike"?

"Harbor animosity toward" implies a deep-seated, sustained resentment, while "dislike" simply means not liking something. "Harbor animosity toward" is a stronger and more intense expression.