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

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov repeated Moscow's demand for a comprehensive peace deal, not a temporary break in hostilities, following Ukraine's call for a complete and unconditional ceasefire. — Hanna Arhirova, Arkansas Online, 25 Sep. 2026

Macklemore rejected those accusations, saying that criticism of Israel and opposition to Zionism should not be conflated with hostility toward Jewish people. — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov repeated Moscow’s demand for a comprehensive peace deal, not a temporary break in hostilities, following Ukraine’s call for a complete and unconditional ceasefire. — ABC News, 24 Sep. 2026

What, at its essence, is this administration’s hostility to difference—in people, aesthetics, or identity—but a deadly game of chase? — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 24 Sep. 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