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
Shibani Mahtani,
NPR,
21 June 2026
Additionally, many Americans whose relatives were killed or captured overseas were hostile to the prisoners.
—
Helaine Williams,
Arkansas Online,
20 June 2026
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
Adjective
Instead, they've been met by a hostile bureaucracy.
—
Shibani Mahtani,
NPR,
21 June 2026
Additionally, many Americans whose relatives were killed or captured overseas were hostile to the prisoners.
—
Helaine Williams,
Arkansas Online,
20 June 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
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But a recent poll shows that a majority abroad have a negative view of the country.
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Bass’ handling of the Palisades fire has had a long-lasting, negative impact on voters’ opinions of her.
Adjective
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The undertaking might seem crazy to those who diss the fight game or have unfavorable reviews of the current administration.
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Negotiating power is harder to see—until conditions become unfavorable and someone needs to act against the system their balance sheet depends on.
Noun
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Republican legislators, taking their lead from a president who sees half the nation as his personal enemy, have put their own party’s interests over the republic’s.
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Unluckily, Alys, freshly alienated by Daemon, arrives just in time to nurse the enemy of her enemy back to health.
Adjective
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In pharmacogenomics, understanding how genes affect drug efficacy helps doctors prescribe the right drug at the optimal dose while reducing adverse reactions.
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Johnson was undone by revelations of his conduct during Covid lockdowns and Truss by the adverse market reaction to her 2022 mini-Budget.
Adjective
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Telegram said its moderation systems remove millions of pieces of harmful content each month, including non-consensual pornography.
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Developing a negative self-view as a result of these harmful experiences during your formative years is not uncommon.
Noun
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The program posed a massive political problem for Mamdani, who’s been criticized by both his allies and opponents for his stance.
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Other opponents generally feel compelled to drop an extra player into the back line, forming a back five against Japan’s front five — as the Netherlands did, with Frenkie de Jong dropping in from midfield.
Adjective
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Some use to it describe the most boisterous group of antagonistic influencers.
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Amid an increasingly complex and antagonistic immigration system, his story is one of rare success.
Noun
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With Aemond gone, Rhaenrya dragon-waltzes into King's Landing, an entry made possible by peace-seeking former foe and childhood bestie Alicent.
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The 2018 runners-up and 2022 third-place finishers have three wins and a draw against African World Cup foes since 2014, including their third-place victory over Morocco.
Cite this Entry
“Hostile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hostile. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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