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TAKE THE QUIZhostile
adjective
hos·tile
ˈhä-stᵊl 
-ˌstī(-ə)l
-ˌstī(-ə)l
2
a
: of or relating to the opposing party in a legal controversy
b
: adverse to the interests of a property owner or corporation management
hostile
noun
Synonyms
Example Sentences
Dugoni, a lawyer who coauthored a nonfiction book about an Idaho worker brain-damaged in 1996 by cyanide fumes, opens his debut novel with a wrongful death attorney in San Francisco, David Sloane, about to make his closing remarks defending a corporation in a similar case. Sloane, who has won 14 cases in a row, hates his arrogant client and must face an obviously hostile jury.
—
Publishers Weekly, 9 Jan. 2006
Relations with neighboring societies may be intermittently or chronically hostile. A society may be able to hold off its enemies as long as it is strong, only to succumb when it becomes weakened for any reason, including environmental damage.
—Jared M. Diamond, Collapse, 2005
I do not want a hostile relationship with my surgeon. But it's obvious he's pigeonholed me into the last of the four patient categories that doctors use when writing a case history: young, middle-aged, senior, elderly.
—Sylvia Simmons, Newsweek, 10 June 2002
Even when one is inside a climate-controlled spacecraft, sheltered from the deadly vacuum outside, space is a hostile setting. Terrestrial organisms venturing off the planet face a number of threats, chief among them cosmic radiation and the near absence of gravity.
—Kenneth S. Kosik, Air & Space, June/July 2001
Lotus Development Corp. succumbed to a sweetened offer of $3.52 billion, or $64 a share, from International Business Machines Corp. in one of the fastest capitulations ever in a hostile takeover. A marathon week of negotiations, which began shortly after IBM unveiled a surprise bid of $60 a share for Lotus last Monday, ended yesterday with the signing of a definitive agreement.
—Laurie Hays et al., Wall Street Journal, 12 June 1995
While the stereotype of the tortured artist brooding alone in a drafty garret may be an exaggeration, artists of all kinds—painters, musicians, poets, singers—often find themselves struggling to cope in a … world downright hostile to their work. Financial hardships, loneliness, family members who nag them to get "real" jobs, and their own self-destructive attitudes and habits can block creativity and prevent artists from pursuing their vision.
—New Age Journal, Winter 1995
They were entering hostile territory.
Her suggestions were given a hostile reception.
It was a small town that was hostile to outsiders.
The camel is specially adapted to its hostile desert habitat.
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Publishers Weekly, 9 Jan. 2006
Relations with neighboring societies may be intermittently or chronically hostile. A society may be able to hold off its enemies as long as it is strong, only to succumb when it becomes weakened for any reason, including environmental damage.
—Jared M. Diamond, Collapse, 2005
I do not want a hostile relationship with my surgeon. But it's obvious he's pigeonholed me into the last of the four patient categories that doctors use when writing a case history: young, middle-aged, senior, elderly.
—Sylvia Simmons, Newsweek, 10 June 2002
Even when one is inside a climate-controlled spacecraft, sheltered from the deadly vacuum outside, space is a hostile setting. Terrestrial organisms venturing off the planet face a number of threats, chief among them cosmic radiation and the near absence of gravity.
—Kenneth S. Kosik, Air & Space, June/July 2001
Lotus Development Corp. succumbed to a sweetened offer of $3.52 billion, or $64 a share, from International Business Machines Corp. in one of the fastest capitulations ever in a hostile takeover. A marathon week of negotiations, which began shortly after IBM unveiled a surprise bid of $60 a share for Lotus last Monday, ended yesterday with the signing of a definitive agreement.
—Laurie Hays et al., Wall Street Journal, 12 June 1995
While the stereotype of the tortured artist brooding alone in a drafty garret may be an exaggeration, artists of all kinds—painters, musicians, poets, singers—often find themselves struggling to cope in a … world downright hostile to their work. Financial hardships, loneliness, family members who nag them to get "real" jobs, and their own self-destructive attitudes and habits can block creativity and prevent artists from pursuing their vision.
—New Age Journal, Winter 1995
They were entering hostile territory.
Her suggestions were given a hostile reception.
It was a small town that was hostile to outsiders.
The camel is specially adapted to its hostile desert habitat.
See More
Recent Examples on the Web
In the November meeting, Hastings told council that multiple employees complained that the comments created a hostile work environment.
—Cory Shaffer, cleveland, 23 Jan. 2023
In a letter sent from her attorney to Bronson last week, Demboski accused the mayor and his administration of violating the law, acting unethically, discriminating against women and creating and tolerating a hostile work environment.
—Emily Goodykoontz, Anchorage Daily News, 19 Jan. 2023
Thompson was 18 of 45 for 220 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions, while nearly helping Miami to pull off an improbable upset in the difficult position of playing on the road in a hostile Orchard Park environment.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 18 Jan. 2023
The communication errors were unfortunate, but forgivable considering McDaniel was working with a rookie third-string QB (Thompson) in a hostile environment.
—Ben Volin, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Jan. 2023
Wild Card Sunday kicks off in a hostile Buffalo environment as the 13-3 Bills host the 9-8 Miami Dolphins in an AFC East postseason battle.
—Catena Media, oregonlive, 15 Jan. 2023
The group said the remarks create a hostile work environment for Bolden.
—Andrea May Sahouri, Detroit Free Press, 12 Jan. 2023
Complaints of a hostile work environment, filed in the county’s Human Resources Division last May, prompted an internal affairs investigation, according to the notice of dismissal sent on Friday.
—Amanda Rabines, Orlando Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2023
Yet, since sometime before July 23, 2022, an anonymous user has been steadily updating IMDb’s trivia section on Corsage with hostile and belittling comments presented under the guise of background information.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 14 Jan. 2023
See More
Cory Shaffer, cleveland, 23 Jan. 2023
In a letter sent from her attorney to Bronson last week, Demboski accused the mayor and his administration of violating the law, acting unethically, discriminating against women and creating and tolerating a hostile work environment.
—Emily Goodykoontz, Anchorage Daily News, 19 Jan. 2023
Thompson was 18 of 45 for 220 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions, while nearly helping Miami to pull off an improbable upset in the difficult position of playing on the road in a hostile Orchard Park environment.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 18 Jan. 2023
The communication errors were unfortunate, but forgivable considering McDaniel was working with a rookie third-string QB (Thompson) in a hostile environment.
—Ben Volin, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Jan. 2023
Wild Card Sunday kicks off in a hostile Buffalo environment as the 13-3 Bills host the 9-8 Miami Dolphins in an AFC East postseason battle.
—Catena Media, oregonlive, 15 Jan. 2023
The group said the remarks create a hostile work environment for Bolden.
—Andrea May Sahouri, Detroit Free Press, 12 Jan. 2023
Complaints of a hostile work environment, filed in the county’s Human Resources Division last May, prompted an internal affairs investigation, according to the notice of dismissal sent on Friday.
—Amanda Rabines, Orlando Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2023
Yet, since sometime before July 23, 2022, an anonymous user has been steadily updating IMDb’s trivia section on Corsage with hostile and belittling comments presented under the guise of background information.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 14 Jan. 2023
See More
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hostile.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Latin hostīlis, from hostis "enemy" + -īlis "pertaining to or characteristic of (such persons)" — more at host entry 1
First Known Use
1580, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing hostile
Dictionary Entries Near hostile
Cite this Entry
“Hostile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hostile. Accessed 2 Feb. 2023.
Kids Definition
Legal Definition
hostile
adjective
hos·tile
3
a
: adverse to or incompatible with the interests of a property owner
see also adverse possession at possession, easement by prescription at easement, prescription sense 1
More from Merriam-Webster on hostile
Nglish: Translation of hostile for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of hostile for Arabic Speakers
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