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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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

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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 last time the two nations were openly hostile was during the War of 1812, and Canada at that time wasn’t yet even its own country separate from Great Britain. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026 Even so, the blistering Pasadena sun produced an unusually hostile crowd environment. — Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 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
  1. negative
  2. unfavorable
  3. enemy
  4. adverse
  5. harmful
  6. opponent
  7. antagonistic
  8. foe
Adjective
  • Arjun Bhatia, an analyst at William Blair who recommends buying Salesforce shares, said investors who turned negative on cloud software companies or eliminated their exposure altogether due to AI concerns, are starting to come back.
    — Jordan Novet, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Much like Big Tobacco was forced to admit that cigarettes can cause cancer or Purdue Pharma was forced to stop downplaying the risks of OxyContin, this agreement now puts Meta’s core products in a negative light.
    — Diane Brady, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of negative
Adjective
  • Among Republicans, 10% now give him an unfavorable rating, and among independents, 51%- 42% have an unfavorable view.
    — Susan Page, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
  • First responders also urge residents not to enter the water at all when swimming is prohibited, especially during unfavorable weather.
    — Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of unfavorable
Noun
  • Blanche’s immediate predecessor, Pam Bondi, was ousted in April after failing to deliver successful prosecutions against the president’s political enemies.
    — Alanna Durkin Richer, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Rather than law enforcement authorities like the Coast Guard having to seize a vessel under civil seizure laws, the Department of Defense, usually through military force, can seize an enemy vessel instead.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of enemy
Adjective
  • Then England attracted adverse attention for openly drinking in the Queensland resort of Noosa when 2-0 down in a one-sided Ashes series in Australia.
    — Paul Newman, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Women with high occupational heat exposure were roughly twice as likely to suffer a miscarriage or stillbirth as those working in cooler conditions, and faced elevated risks of adverse birth outcomes overall.
    — Catarina Rolfsdotter-Jansson, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of adverse
Adjective
  • California was among dozens of states that sued Meta in 2023, alleging in a lawsuit that the social media giant intentionally designed harmful and addictive features to hook children while misleading the public about the dangers.
    — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The report said the company was strengthening its research infrastructure, increasing monitoring and improving safeguards designed to prevent harmful or unintended behavior.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of harmful
Noun
  • Seemingly countless millions of dollars are being spent on the measure, particularly by its wealthy opponents.
    — Dan Walters, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Which brings us to David Solet, Ryan’s opponent in the primary.
    — Boston Herald editorial staff, Boston Herald, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of opponent
Adjective
  • The brothers were famously antagonistic toward one another, making Thomas’s image all the more unique.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 26 Aug. 2026
  • In Central America, for example, ants feed on acacia trees, a relationship that, at first glance, appeared purely antagonistic.
    — Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of antagonistic
Noun
  • Only five of their 2026 opponents had winning records last season, and their nine league opponents combined for a 28-53 record against Big Ten foes.
    — Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • But this season, their division foes haven’t gotten any easier, and the rest of the league is out to test whether quarterback Sam Darnold can maintain last season’s star-worthy production.
    — NBC Sports, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of foe

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hostesses
hostile
hostilely
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Cite this Entry

“Hostile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hostile. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.

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