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
Relevance
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
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
Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2025
Research indicates that prolonged exposure to such hostile environments can lead to a range of mental health disorders characterized by symptoms like hypervigilance, intrusive thoughts, and emotional numbness.
—Jason Walker Psyd, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Existing biases are magnified and neutral positions turn hostile.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 17 Apr. 2025
Practically very little will change for most trans women, who have been dealing with a hostile environment in this country for many years.
—Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hostile
Adjective
Bailey, deft and playful, chooses to be his own antic, a droll and often hostile jester.
—Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2025
Research indicates that prolonged exposure to such hostile environments can lead to a range of mental health disorders characterized by symptoms like hypervigilance, intrusive thoughts, and emotional numbness.
—Jason Walker Psyd, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Existing biases are magnified and neutral positions turn hostile.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 17 Apr. 2025
Practically very little will change for most trans women, who have been dealing with a hostile environment in this country for many years.
—Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hostile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hostile
Adjective
-
But if your reflection is limited to replaying the negative parts of your social interactions and perpetuating feelings of shame or self-criticism, that’s less constructive, says Janeé Steele, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in Kalamazoo, Michigan.—
Seraphina Seow,
Vogue,
17 Apr. 2025
-
The evidence for this is her (few) actions at the tournament, which are being construed as overwhelmingly negative.—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Trump has derided the outlets as being unfavorable to him and a drain on taxpayer money.—
Bloomberg News,
Boston Herald,
15 Apr. 2025
-
According to a Quinnipiac poll released in mid-March, only 7 percent of American voters have a favorable opinion of Putin, while 81 percent have an unfavorable opinion of him.—
Eric Jason Martin Tanya Pérez Ted Blaisdell,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Some were emblazoned with images of Maximilian I of Bavaria and Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand III. Further, archaeologists discovered fragments of lead bullets and deposits of metal wheels — which were likely safeguarded to prevent them from falling into enemy hands after the army left camp.—
Brendan Rascius,
Miami Herald,
18 Apr. 2025
-
The character went from being Emily’s friend to becoming her enemy as the two wrestled in a love triangle with Gabriel.—
Vivian Kwarm,
New York Daily News,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
So far, Lilly said the adverse effects of its new pill are consistent with GLP-1s, a class of medications primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes.—
Jonathan Limehouse,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2025
-
In the study, the researchers measured patients’ impulse control behavior disorders, excessive daytime sleepiness, blood pressure changes and weight changes, and found that the adverse effects linked to tavapadon were no different from those who received a placebo.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
For every person who happily sets 4:00 a.m. alarms on race morning, there’s another convinced the sport is too hard, too boring, or a waste of time, if not outright harmful.—
Cindy Kuzma,
SELF,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Confusing a congressional edict to end segregation with DEI policies that have no genesis in the Black Civil Rights movement to end Jim Crow is historically ignorant, disrespectful, and harmful to the urgent need to focus on resolving continuing racial inequalities in public education.—
Raymond Pierce,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Trump’s threats to annex Canada and his tariffs have pulled the ruling Liberal party out of spiraling approval ratings and could propel Mark Carney, the Liberal candidate and sitting prime minister, to victory over Pierre Poilievre, his conservative opponent.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2025
-
His opponents called him a fascist, but this only seemed to backfire.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
This calculated move aimed to generate significant buzz and re-establish Lynch with a new, more antagonistic persona upon her return to the WWE landscape.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
-
The Trump White House, though long antagonistic toward ObamaCare, surprisingly chose to continue the Biden administration’s defense of the law.—
Nathaniel Weixel,
The Hill,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The foes have made constitutional claims, environmental claims, procedural claims.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
21 Apr. 2025
-
Giant games ahead as IM plays CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals this Thursday at Vancouver and April 30 vs. the same foe in Fort Lauderdale, with an MLS home match vs. Dallas in between next Sunday.—
Greg Cote,
Miami Herald,
20 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hostile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hostile. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share