harbors animosity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'harbors animosity' is correct and can be used in written English.
It means to feel or show hatred or ill will towards someone. For example, "After years of working together, the two partners eventually began to harbor animosity towards each other."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 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

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

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

The New York Times

After six years, the Safts moved to a larger co-op at 1040 Park, a building that still harbored animosity traceable to a 20-year-old feud over a $60,000 redecoration of the lobby.

The New York Times

But Mizer didn't seem to harbor animosity for "sissies"; his hatred was for the world's hatred, and he used physical fitness as a tool of survival in perniciously polite society.

The New Yorker

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

While separating couples can obviously harbor animosity towards each other, it is your duty to protect your children from the fallout of divorce.

Huffington Post

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

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

The New York Times

So he has tried to play down any notion that he harbors special animosity toward him, saying he simply does not know him well.

The New York Times

I harbor no animosity.

The New York Times

"My clients harbor no animosity towards him," he continued.

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, consider the specific nuance you want to convey. "Harbors animosity" suggests a hidden or suppressed feeling, so use it when the animosity is not openly expressed.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "harbors animosity" is relatively formal. Avoid using it in casual conversation or informal writing where simpler phrases like "holds a grudge" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "harbors animosity" functions as a verb phrase where "harbors" is the verb, indicating the action of concealing or holding onto, and "animosity" is the noun, representing the strong feeling of dislike or ill will. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "harbors animosity" is a grammatically sound expression that signifies holding a deep-seated, often concealed, resentment or ill-will. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. While recognized, its usage is relatively infrequent, mainly appearing in News & Media contexts. When writing, understand that using "harbors animosity" is more suitable for neutral contexts. To create clarity and impact with your writing, remember that alternatives like "holds a grudge" might be more appropriate for less formal situations. When to use and where makes all the difference.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

holds resentment

Directly states the act of possessing feelings of bitterness and indignation.

holds a grudge

Suggests maintaining long-lasting resentment, emphasizing the duration of the negative feeling.

bears a grudge

Similar to "holds a grudge", but emphasizes the active carrying of resentment.

nurtures animosity

Implies carefully feeding and growing feelings of hostility.

nurses a grievance

Implies tending to and prolonging a feeling of resentment over a perceived wrong.

fosters resentment

Focuses on actively encouraging and maintaining negative feelings.

retains bitterness

Emphasizes the ongoing presence of resentment despite the passage of time.

maintains hostility

Suggests a deliberate effort to keep hostile feelings alive.

feels bitterness

Focuses on the internal experience of negativity and resentment.

entertains hostility

Suggests the active consideration and dwelling on hostile feelings.

FAQs

What does "harbors animosity" mean?

The phrase "harbors animosity" means to secretly hold feelings of strong dislike, hatred, or resentment towards someone.

Is "harbors animosity" a common expression?

While grammatically correct, "harbors animosity" is not a very common expression. Other alternatives like "holds a grudge" or "feels bitterness" might be more frequently used.

What are some alternatives to "harbors animosity"?

You can use alternatives such as "holds a grudge", "bears a grudge", or "nurses a grievance" to express similar sentiments.

How can I use "harbors animosity" in a sentence?

Example usage: "Despite their public smiles, she privately harbors animosity toward her former business partner."