1
as in negative
marked by opposition or ill will
the suggestions for change were given a hostile reception by some of the longtime employees
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unfavorable
opposed to one's interests
the company's president vows to fight the hostile takeover by the giant corporation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in enemy
one that is hostile toward another
reports of hostiles in the area kept the settlers on edge
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hostile
Jeremy Shapiro, The Atlantic, 10 Sep. 2025
An area of stormy weather the hurricane center tracked for development between Africa and the Caribbean last week succumbed to this hostile factor.
—Chris Dolce, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
Robert S. Gable, IEEE Spectrum, 20 July 2017
See All Example Sentences for hostile
Adjective
In virtually any likely end-of-war scenario, Ukraine will remain a hostile, Western-armed neighbor—a permanent sucking wound on Russia’s western flank.
—Jeremy Shapiro, The Atlantic, 10 Sep. 2025
An area of stormy weather the hurricane center tracked for development between Africa and the Caribbean last week succumbed to this hostile factor.
—Chris Dolce, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
And, unfortunately, the monitoring idea was born into a world hostile to its very premise.
—Robert S. Gable, IEEE Spectrum, 20 July 2017
See All Example Sentences for hostile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hostile
Adjective
-
There is also, generally speaking, universal admission that boy, this game sure runs terribly on PC, leading to a huge number of negative Steam reviews, causing the game to be Mixed there.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Then, there’s the power to see through all of that, through what could be perceived as pain or a negative situation, and see the colorfulness of my culture, the warmth of my culture, and the community, as well.—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Also, unfavorable factors are the extension price tag that can top tens of billions of dollars annually, and eligibility that includes those making 400% the poverty rate.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Two years before the Rule was finalized in 1944, the Supreme Court made unfavorable (unpublished) comments about a draft proposal permitting the government to take pretrial depositions.—
Robert Anello,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
These vessels can blend into the ocean’s background noise and deploy advanced drones designed to confuse and distract enemy tracking systems.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Sep. 2025
-
At first, drones were used to scout and drop makeshift bombs onto enemy troops’ heads.—
Joseph Nepomuceno,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Swift and Lively’s long friendship had been a distinct sub-plot in the IEWU legal battles, with tabloid fodder that the duo have fallen out over the controversy adverse Eras Tour performer getting tainted with the whole thing.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The potential adverse consequences to entrepreneurs when well-being is disregarded are well-documented.—
Samantha Dewalt,
Fortune,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
According to a five-pillar plan shared with CNBC, Cruz also aims to create federal standards for AI, prevent AI from being used in harmful ways such as scams, allow free speech and address ethical concerns.—
Emily Wilkins,
CNBC,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Nonfiction narratives that students both read and produce serve as counter-narratives to the oppressive and harmful tropes in media more generally about Black girls and girlhood.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Deakins has two opponents so far in the contest for the Republican Party nomination.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Kirk was an opponent of transgender rights advocates and was discussing transgender mass shootings when he was fatally shot.—
Marni Rose McFall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Esmeralda comes closest, but her role (at least in the early episodes) is more of an antagonistic one.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Although areas of potential cooperation between Brasília and Washington remain, the political agendas of Lula and Trump are fundamentally antagonistic, and any rapprochement is unlikely to materialize before Brazil’s 2026 elections.—
HUSSEIN KALOUT,
Foreign Affairs,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The teams may again meet this weekend in a match-up that will again stoke the political machinations between the foes.—
Tristan Lavalette,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Master Chief, much like the Doom Slayer, dwarfed most of his foes and was nigh-on invulnerable.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hostile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hostile. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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