Synonyms of hostilities

hostilities

noun

plural of hostility

as in war

a state of armed violent struggle between states, nations, or groups

Both sides agreed to cease all hostilities.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• war
• conflict
• skirmish
• conflagration
• fighting
• warfare
• battle
• hot war
• civil war
• cold war
• police action
• engagement
• world war
• combat
• holy war
• action
• limited war

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• peace
• disarmament
• demobilization
• pacification
• truce
• demilitarization
• calm
• tranquility
• cease-fire
• peacefulness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of hostilities

One of them might just be to try and keep this conflict at a low simmer here instead of flaring it up into open hostilities. — Dana Taylor, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026

The Soviet Union took them from Japan in the final days of World War II, and the dispute has kept the countries from signing a peace treaty formally ending their hostilities. — ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026

Another could be renewed hostilities around the Persian Gulf. — Sj Guest Editorial, Footwear News, 18 Aug. 2026

The blowout of the crack spread came from hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz, combined with those between Russia and Ukraine. — Michael Khouw, CNBC, 17 Aug. 2026

Their agreement puts an end to legal hostilities between the teams who are both set to leave AAC, the Mavs for the Valley View Mall and the Stars for the Shops at Willow Bend, after their lease ends. — Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Aug. 2026

Though the formal truce expired in October 2022, large-scale hostilities remained comparatively limited for years. — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 16 Aug. 2026

But even if hostilities in the region de-escalate, a persistent risk to traffic through the strait will likely remain, with passage either outright controlled by Iran or, at the very least, subject to Iranian disruption at any time. — Jason Bordoff, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2026

But that prompted Iran to attack vessels trying to bypass its own corridor, reigniting hostilities and leading to the current standoff. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 9 Aug. 2026