hostility

noun

hos·​til·​i·​ty hä-ˈsti-lə-tē 

plural hostilities

1

a

: deep-seated usually mutual ill will

glad to have gotten through the divorce proceedings without any visible signs of hostility

showed open hostility toward outsiders

b(1)

: hostile action

the Spanish expedition encountered hostility … and was forced to flee

—R. W. Murray

(2)

hostilities plural : overt acts of warfare : war

Peace talks were stalled after recent hostilities.

2

: conflict, opposition, or resistance in thought or principle

there was tension, there was hostility and envy in the air

—Theodor Reik

Synonyms

• animosity
• animus
• antagonism
• antipathy
• bad blood
• bitterness
• enmity
• gall
• grudge
• jaundice
• rancor

Choose the Right Synonym for hostility

enmity, hostility, antipathy, antagonism, animosity, rancor, animus mean deep-seated dislike or ill will.

enmity suggests positive hatred which may be open or concealed.

an unspoken enmity

hostility suggests an enmity showing itself in attacks or aggression.

hostility between the two nations

antipathy and antagonism imply a natural or logical basis for one's hatred or dislike, antipathy suggesting repugnance, a desire to avoid or reject, and antagonism suggesting a clash of temperaments leading readily to hostility.

a natural antipathy for self-seekers

antagonism between the brothers

animosity suggests intense ill will and vindictiveness that threaten to kindle hostility.

animosity that led to revenge

rancor is especially applied to bitter brooding over a wrong.

rancor filled every line of his letters

animus adds to animosity the implication of strong prejudice.

objections devoid of personal animus

Examples of hostility in a Sentence

They were both glad to have gotten through the divorce proceedings without any visible signs of hostility.

The townspeople showed open hostility to outsiders.

Peace talks were stalled after recent hostilities.

Both sides are calling for a cessation of hostilities.

Recent Examples on the Web

Analysts cited by The New York Times said Israel's restrained attack and Iran's response may reduce the chance that hostilities will escalate between the two countries. —USA TODAY, 19 Apr. 2024

The Minsk agreements signed in 2014 and 2015 following Russia’s annexation of Crimea and invasion of the Donbas covered minutiae such as the date and time of the cessation of hostilities and which weapons system should be withdrawn by what distance. —Samuel Charap, Foreign Affairs, 16 Apr. 2024

Despite decades of indoctrination in anti-Israel and anti-Semitic sentiment by their government, Iranians harbor very little hostility toward Israel. —Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 14 Apr. 2024

Between April 6 and 12, Israel facilitated 41% of missions, with 41% denied or impeded including due to hostilities, and 17% canceled by aid groups mainly due to logistical constraints. —Mallory Moench, TIME, 14 Apr. 2024

Any Iranian strike inside Israel would be a watershed moment in the decades of hostilities between the two nations that would most likely open a volatile new chapter in the region. —Thomas Fuller, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2024

The organization is crucial to world security and a safeguard against any potential hostility from Russia, Smith said. —Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 10 Apr. 2024

Few volunteers want to join a board in which directors display hostility toward each other or serve an association that seems to be always in litigation. —Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Apr. 2024

Many Republicans have adopted Donald Trump’s hostility toward the country, regurgitating Russian propaganda that vilifies and dehumanizes Ukrainian citizens. —Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English hostilite, hostilitie, borrowed from Late Latin hostīlitāt-, hostīlitās, from Latin hostīlis "of an enemy, hostile" + -itāt-, -itās -ity

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

hostility

noun

hos·​til·​i·​ty hä-ˈstil-ət-ē 

plural hostilities

1

: a hostile state, attitude, or action

2

plural : acts of warfare

Medical Definition

hostility

noun

hos·​til·​i·​ty hä-ˈstil-ət-ē 

plural hostilities

: conflict, opposition, or resistance in thought or principle

hostile

ˈhäs-tᵊl  -ˌtīl 

adjective