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hostile 1 of 2

adjective

ˈhä-stᵊl How to pronounce hostile (audio)
Definition of hostilenext
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

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2
as in unfavorable
opposed to one's interests the company's president vows to fight the hostile takeover by the giant corporation

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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

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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
The Packers’ identity is that of a team that can’t shut the door, one that crumbles when momentum turns in a hostile away environment. — Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026 Some Democrats have been less hostile but want more representation. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026
Noun
During the recent demonstration test, the Bird of Prey took off from a launch cradle, and once in the air was able to autonomously search for, detect, and classify a target drone standing in for a hostile. — David Szondy april 04, New Atlas, 4 Apr. 2026 But no one has just been out-and-out hostile to him. — Matthew Stolle, Twin Cities, 28 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hostile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hostile
  1. negative
  2. unfavorable
  3. enemy
  4. adverse
  5. harmful
  6. opponent
  7. antagonistic
  8. foe
Adjective
  • His colorful mermaid costume catches the eyes of Carmela’s gossipy friends, as well as negative attention from other boys.
    — Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
  • New polling by the Special Competitive Studies Project and Gallup finds that Americans are overwhelmingly negative on the economic impacts of AI.
    — Benjamin Guggenheim, Washington Post, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of negative
Adjective
  • The Raiders caught Johnson in unfavorable mismatches a few times and exploited it.
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Good opportunities should create attractive potential upside without placing the organization in a position where one unfavorable outcome becomes catastrophic.
    — Brian Ferdinand, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of unfavorable
Noun
  • As part of the elite unit called the Helldivers, players must work together to protect Super Earth and defeat the enemies of mankind in an intense intergalactic war.
    — Justin Kroll, Deadline, 18 Sep. 2026
  • But the weather was as much an enemy as the North Koreans or the Chinese.
    — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of enemy
Adjective
  • The Ukraine international forward last played a competitive match for Chelsea in November 2024, and has been suspended under anti-doping rules after an adverse finding in a urine sample.
    — Cerys Jones, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Instead, she was given a spate of different medications over a matter of months to treat her symptoms or the adverse reactions to some of the medications.
    — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of adverse
Adjective
  • Unresolved issues run the gamut, from antitrust protections to chip export controls to whether existing consumer laws are sufficient to protect people from harmful AI.
    — Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • For example, California Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed multiple AI bills into law, including Adam's Law, which requires AI chatbot makers to protect minors from harmful interactions.
    — Lora Kolodny,Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of harmful
Noun
  • Plenty of the ball, xG more than twice that of their opponents but no shots on target.
    — Stuart James, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • This opponent has some very good athletes to challenge the Warriors.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of opponent
Adjective
  • This evolutionary theory of aging is known as antagonistic pleiotropy.
    — Venki Ramakrishnan, Scientific American, 15 Sep. 2026
  • But Mark, in Ronson’s telling, quickly grows antagonistic, abruptly asking Ronson to sign an NDA, then later barraging him with suspicious texts and threatening him with a pair of goons.
    — Jeremy Gordon, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of antagonistic
Noun
  • Known as Dick Capen to friends and foes, the publisher ventured out of his secure glass-cage office that was tucked out of sight in the Herald’s former Biscayne Bay-front headquarters.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2026
  • The Eagles should run away with their district this season, although the Graham Steers are a formidable foe.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of foe

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hostesses
hostile
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Cite this Entry

“Hostile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hostile. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

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