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Definitions

bad blood

NOUN
bitterness of feeling
Synonyms
STRONGEST
acrimony animosity animus antagonism bitterness distrust enmity hatred hostility ill will nastiness rancor resentment
WEAK
anger antipathy bad chemistry bad feeling bad vibes bad will disaccord dislike hard feelings ill-disposedness malevolence malice mutual hostility odium oppugnancy oppugnation personality conflict unfriendliness venom
Antonyms
STRONGEST
friendliness friendship good will happiness kindness liking love loving sweetness sympathy

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The trial was told of bad blood between the two men.

From BBC • Feb. 25, 2026

Was there any doubt that this absurdly riveting bad blood showdown could do anything but take it to the brink, like it had in Vancouver 2010, or even Boston a year ago?

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 22, 2026

When discussing the two years he spent in Metallica and the bad blood that followed, Mustaine is contemplative and serene.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 20, 2026

Alexander Isak's absence due to a leg break removed some of the simmering bad blood between the clubs over the Swede's British transfer record move to Anfield in September.

From Barron's • Jan. 31, 2026

I thought of the bad blood between King Hamlet and his brother, the rumors that flew after the king’s death, and my father questioning what I had seen.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.