1
as in hatred
a deep-seated ill will
a lingering hostility between the two neighbors ever since since they had that property-line dispute
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in conflict
hostilities plural
a state of armed violent struggle between states, nations, or groups
Both sides agreed to cease all hostilities.
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hostility
For a while, the administration’s general hostility toward immigrants and visitors from other nations didn’t appear to significantly impact the American traveler.
—
Laura Bassett, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026
The same Harris Poll survey that captured Americans’ hostility toward billionaires also found that 60 percent of respondents wanted to become billionaires themselves.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
Standing outside a completely different locked restaurant, the host’s fear came across as hostility.
—Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
An early sign of the growing hostility in the race came in January when podcasters Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers veered into the Texas primary.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hostility
Laura Bassett, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026
The same Harris Poll survey that captured Americans’ hostility toward billionaires also found that 60 percent of respondents wanted to become billionaires themselves.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
Standing outside a completely different locked restaurant, the host’s fear came across as hostility.
—Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
An early sign of the growing hostility in the race came in January when podcasters Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers veered into the Texas primary.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hostility
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hostility
Noun
-
What began as skepticism towards AI has curdled into a palpable AI hatred across the American workforce.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Given their hatred of Indigenous people, Casey and Frank set out to bring them back, a vengeance mission with echoes of The Searchers.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
His party successfully capitalized on rising nationalism fueled by a deadly border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia last year, economic woes and uncertainty over Thailand’s trade relationship with the United States, and built up a strong local support base.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Units often operate across wider areas than in past conflicts.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
His father refused to relinquish his grudge, as Dreher saw it, and his mother always went along with her husband.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
13 Feb. 2026
-
As far as grudges go, this one runs dangerously deep.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The term of art for this sort of battlefield confusion is fog of war.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
18 Feb. 2026
-
At least 77 people were killed and dozens injured in various attacks, mostly by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, in densely populated areas, according to Sudan Doctors Network, a group that tracks violence through the war.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Anger over the bloodshed now adds to the bitterness over the economy, which has been hollowed out by decades of sanctions, corruption and mismanagement.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The bright fragrant baking spice from Angostura Bitters is replaced with the deep earth of the Cynar whose bitterness brings a constant low hum, like engine noise on an airplane.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
His Chevy was one of three vintage American automobiles that US diplomats selected to be in the background for the flag raising ceremony at the US Embassy in Havana that marked the official restoration of ties between the two countries following decades of bitter animosity.—
Patrick Oppmann,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Now there’s clear animosity between the teams, which is intriguing for the casual viewer but a blow to the curling community.—
Julia Frankel,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Luckey and Newsom do share antagonism toward labor unions’ proposal to levy a one-time 5% tax on billionaires.—
Andrew Graham,
Sacbee.com,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Although a good portion of this album still sounds like Kurt Vile going through a Sly Stone phase, the kumbaya squishiness of the past few records has hardened into a brisk antagonism.—
Eli Enis,
Pitchfork,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Indignation in the face of injustice, yes—but not enmity.—
Emily Chamlee-Wright,
Washington Post,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Winslow’s notable public enmity toward the current president, whose name will not cross his lips today, has been evident ever since the two-time destroyer of worlds first sought power.—
Fred Schruers,
Rolling Stone,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hostility.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hostility. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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