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 of hostility

• hatred
• grudge
• bitterness
• animosity
• antagonism
• enmity
• tension
• rancor
• antipathy
• animus
• feud

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

The Lebanese health ministry said the death toll has risen to 123 since the resurgence of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, which struck Israel in the opening days of the war. —Arkansas Online, 6 Mar. 2026

The hostilities have made ocean carriers wary of sailing through the Strait of Hormuz, and forced a mass closure of airspace throughout the Middle East that directly impacted 13 percent of global air cargo capacity, according to data from Rotate. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 6 Mar. 2026

Qatar, which halted its Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas plant this week following an Iranian drone attack, will be unable to restart its massive natural gas production until hostilities have completely ended, Kaabi told the Financial Times. —Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 6 Mar. 2026

Chances of the hostilities lasting longer have risen as both sides intensify their attacks. —Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 5 Mar. 2026

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

Rhymes for hostility

• ability
• agility
• civility
• debility
• docility
• ductility
• facility
• fertility
• fragility
• futility
• gentility
• humility

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