hostility

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noun hos·til·i·ty \ hä-ˈsti-lə-tē \

Definition of hostility

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

See hostility defined for English-language learners

See hostility defined for kids

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 of hostility from the Web

Here is Fanny Robin in Far From the Madding Crowd, the apotheosis of fiction’s open hostility to and contempt for happy wedding days.

— rosa lyster, The Cut, "Why Weddings in Books Are Always Terrible," 20 July 2017
Despite the history of hostility between the United States and Iran, scholarly exchanges have survived.

— rick gladstone, New York Times, "Colleagues of Princeton University Scholar Convicted of Spying in Iran Express Shock," 17 July 2017
Women of color deal with harassment and hostility in several work environments, but a new study suggests that the field of astronomy is especially dire.

— meredith clark, Glamour, "Women of Color Don't Feel Safe in Science Jobs, New Study Finds," 10 July 2017
By the time Benjamin Netanyahu secured a third term as prime minister in 2013, the tensions had hardened into outright hostility.

— chicagotribune.com, "Inside Israel's secret program to get rid of African refugees," 5 July 2017
Opposition to Trump runs deep here, and the city has been taking out some of that hostility on the Kushner Cos., withdrawing political support for high-profile projects and shining a spotlight on the company’s business practices.

— barbara demick, latimes.com, "Jersey City is a case study in the perils of politics and real estate for the Kushners," 5 July 2017
As for the White House, Mr. Zucker acknowledged that there could be a personal component to the hostility of the president, who disdains any signs of disloyalty.

— michael m. grynbaum, New York Times, "The Network Against the Leader of the Free World," 5 July 2017
The approach exudes a Trumplike hostility to Washington elites, but not necessarily to government.

— jeet heer, New Republic, "How Democrats Can Defeat Trump and Restore Public Trust in the Government," 2 July 2017
BREWERS THIS WEEK After a day off Monday, the Brewers return to NL Central hostilities with three games in Cincinnati against the Reds, who have been sinking in the division.

— tom haudricourt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Around the Bases: This week in MLB," 24 June 2017

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.

Origin and Etymology of hostility

see hostile

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First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

hostility Synonyms

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

amity

Related Words

blood feud, feud, score, vendetta; hate, hatred, loathing; vindictiveness, virulence, vitriol; alienation, disaffection, estrangement; conflict, coolness, discord, friction, strain, tension; inhospitableness, unfriendliness; malice, malignancy, malignity, spite, spitefulness, venom

Near Antonyms

amiability, amicability, civility, cordiality, friendliness, hospitality, neighborliness; comity, empathy, friendship, goodwill, sympathy, understanding

Synonym Discussion of 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

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

HOSTILITY Defined for English Language Learners

hostility

play

noun

Definition of hostility for English Language Learners

: an unfriendly or hostile state, attitude, or action
hostilities : acts of fighting in a war

HOSTILITY Defined for Kids

hostility

play

noun hos·til·i·ty \ hä-ˈsti-lə-tē \

Definition of hostility for Students

plural hostilities

1 :an unfriendly or hostile state, attitude, or action

They showed no hostility toward strangers.

2 hostilities plural :acts of warfare

Medical Dictionary

hostility

play

noun hos·til·i·ty \ hä-ˈstil-ət-ē \

medical Definition of hostility

plural hostilities

:conflict, opposition, or resistance in thought or principle

—

hostile

play \ˈhäs-tᵊl, -ˌtīl\ adjective

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hostility

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Examples of hostility in a Sentence

Recent Examples of hostility from the Web

Origin and Etymology of hostility

hostility Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Synonym Discussion of hostility

Other Military Terms

HOSTILITY Defined for English Language Learners

hostility

Definition of hostility for English Language Learners

HOSTILITY Defined for Kids

hostility

Definition of hostility for Students

Medical Dictionary

hostility

medical Definition of hostility

hostile

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