hostility

noun

hos·til·i·ty | \ hä-ˈsti-lə-tē

plural hostilities

Definition of hostility

1a : 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 & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about hostility

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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

Several months on and with a new CEO running things, the hostility toward a motorsport program had faded. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, "7:57:148—Volkswagen makes racing history with record-breaking electric race car," 29 June 2018 On Monday the Supreme Court sided with the baker, ruling that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission showed hostility towards his beliefs. — Aubrey Nagle, Philly.com, "Trump cancels Eagles celebration, Krasner wants list of tainted police | Morning Newsletter," 5 June 2018 Kennedy was an outspoken advocate for sending U.S. arms to Israel due to hostilities from neighboring Arab states. — Cameron Knight, Cincinnati.com, "RFK assassination reporting: A list of unresolved conflicts," 5 June 2018 Each side has accused the other of starting the hostilities in violation of the 2003 accord. — Aijaz Hussain, The Seattle Times, "India, Pakistan trade fire in Kashmir; 2 dead, 8 wounded," 2 June 2018 Which is ironic because 'tremendous anger and open hostility' is Trump's 2020 campaign slogan. — Katie Kilkenny, Billboard, "Late-Night Hosts Deliver Trump-North Korea Meeting Postmortems," 25 May 2018 The possibility of England and France renewing hostilities, a redemptive run from Brazil, or even a golden trophy for Belgium’s golden generation were all more tantalizing options. — Andrew Beaton, WSJ, "Croatia Eyes the Greatest Upset in World Cup History," 13 July 2018 These are determinedly entertaining and uplifting essays, with little room for the more unpleasant byproducts of family life, such as ambivalence, resentment, hostility, or shame. — Adam Kirsch, The Atlantic, "The Art of Parenthood," 13 May 2018 The hostilities between Russia and the U.K. and the U.S. stem from the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury, England. — SI.com, "White House Claims British Fans Should 'Think Twice' Before Attending World Cup in Russia," 11 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hostility.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.