HOSTILE Synonyms: 226 Similar and Opposite Words

hostile 1 of 2

adjective

ˈhä-stᵊl

Definition of hostile

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

hostile

2 of 2

noun

as in enemy

one that is hostile toward another reports of hostiles in the area kept the settlers on edge

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of hostile

Adjective

Oh, yeah, in addition to being in hostile territory, the submarine is running out of oxygen rapidly. — Jiji Lee, New Yorker, 14 July 2026 The Pentagon’s war casualty count added one non-hostile death in July. — ABC News, 13 July 2026

Noun

But no one has just been out-and-out hostile to him. — Matthew Stolle, Twin Cities, 28 Jan. 2026 Deputy District Attorney Scott Pirrello told jurors that Bushey had a history of acting hostile toward family members and that his sister’s abrupt presence in the home set him off, leading him to act out and her to fear for her safety. — City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hostile

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hostile

Adjective

In contrast, Trump made at least 17 purchases of eight companies’ stock and then posted negative messages about the firms or their executives shortly afterward.

— Isabelle Chapman, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
In this case, the vague nature of terms like DEI and CRT can have an even steeper negative impact on classrooms by creating uncertainty among faculty.

— Cuyler Dunn, Kansas City Star, 16 July 2026

Definition of negative

Adjective

As exciting as this match at the home of baseball’s New York Mets is likely to be, the players will be met with unfavorable weather conditions.

— Melanie Anzidei, New York Times, 15 July 2026
In April, Pew found that Republicans with a negative view of Israel ticked up since last year, with 57% of young Republicans having an unfavorable view of Israel compared with 50% a year ago.

— Eric Cortellessa, Time, 14 July 2026

Definition of unfavorable

Noun

But rewrite the scene a little bit – Vader, after lopping off Luke’s hand, cradles him in his lap as the young man wakes up slowly to see the dark mask of his enemy above him.

— Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Valerian both underestimated the enemy and overestimated Roman military strength.

— Robin Wright, New Yorker, 17 July 2026

Definition of enemy

Adjective

But this isn’t because of potential health risks or adverse effects in-flight—cabin crew simply dislike pouring it because of its excessive fizziness.

— Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 17 July 2026
The scientific debate Scientists do not always agree on what counts as an adverse effect of mindfulness.

— Ronald S. Green, The Conversation, 16 July 2026

Definition of adverse

Adjective

The as-yet-untitled series will follow the story of multiple families and campaigners including Ellen Roome, who believes that the tragic death of her beloved 14-year-old son Julian ‘Jools’ Sweeney could have been linked to harmful social media.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 15 July 2026
And planting near any street could expose trees to harmful salt spray when roads are treated in the winter.

— Viveka Neveln, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 July 2026

Definition of harmful

Noun

Eustaquio chooses to cross into a central area and Bosnia clear the ball, but the idea — to draw opponents out and create an overload in one area — was sound.

— Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 14 July 2026
El Sayed peddled the claim that Stevens was bought by corporate interests and Israeli lobbyists, whereas Stevens insisted her primary opponent was benefiting from advertising money spent by the Republican Party.

— David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 13 July 2026

Definition of opponent

Adjective

With this pricey deal for Carlsson, the Ducks’ history of antagonistic negotiations with their free agents has become the defining feature of Verbeek’s front office.

— Greg Beacham, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Trump has long maintained a complicated, often antagonistic relationship with Swift.

— Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 5 July 2026

Definition of antagonistic

Noun

Iran has proven to be a far more formidable foe than initially anticipated, and Keir Simmons tells me why the fight is over control of the Strait of Hormuz — not Iran’s nuclear program.

— Yasmin Vossoughian, NBC news, 16 July 2026
Bovo, who resigned his post last year to join a lobbying firm, was a political foe of Hialeah’s current mayor, Bryan Calvo.

— Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 10 July 2026

Definition of foe

Browse Nearby Words

hostesses

hostile

hostilely

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Hostile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hostile. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of hostile

adjective

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on hostile

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

dog days

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes