Enmity (3,4) Crossword Clue
Answer: ILL WILL (7 letters)
The answer to the crossword clue "Enmity (3,4)" with 7 letters is "ILL WILL".Ill will refers to a strong feeling of hostility, resentment, or hatred towards someone, often manifesting in actions or attitudes that show a lack of goodwill. It represents a negative, antagonistic emotion that can lead to conflicts or tension between individuals or groups.
Why “Ill Will” Fits
The clue asks for a phrase (3,4) meaning “enmity.” The answer, ILL WILL, fits exactly:
- Enmity: “Ill will” is a standard expression meaning hatred, hostility, or a strong feeling of unfriendliness toward someone, which is precisely what “enmity” denotes. It captures the idea of an ongoing, negative attitude rather than a brief annoyance.
- Direct match: The phrase matches the (3,4) enumeration—ILL (3) + WILL (4)—and is a well‑established idiom for sustained animosity.
“Ill will” is common in both formal and everyday English:
- Origin and usage: The phrase appears in contexts like “There was a lot of ill will between the two families,” or “His actions created ill will among his colleagues,” clearly describing lingering hostility or bad feeling. Legal and diplomatic language also uses “ill will” to talk about damaged relations or hostile intent between parties or states.
- Nuance: Compared to single words like “hatred” or “resentment,” “ill will” often emphasizes the relational aspect—bad feeling from one person or group directed toward another.
In quick crosswords, clues like “Enmity (3,4)”:
- Signal a short, familiar phrase rather than a single word; “ill will,” “bad blood,” and “hard feelings” are typical options, but only ILL WILL fits the specified (3,4) pattern.
- The exact structure (3,4) and the tight semantic overlap between “enmity” and “ill will” make ILL WILL the natural and intended answer once solvers think of common two‑word expressions for hostility.
