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

Less inviting and contemplative than aggressive and giddy, its priority isn’t to ask the audience to step outside their own perspective and examine how their behavior may contribute to similar hostilities. —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 13 Feb. 2026

This year’s cohort of activists, while quieter than in the past as a result of the ongoing hostilities, is striving to amplify the voices suppressed and introduce emerging artists to a wider audience. —Tina Ahmadi Krol, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026

The moment the Springfield team arrived in Gastonia, it was greeted with hostility. —Bill Swank, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026

For a while, the administration’s general hostility toward immigrants and visitors from other nations didn’t appear to significantly impact the American traveler. —Laura Bassett, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 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