hostile
[hos-tl or, esp. British, -tahyl]
- of, relating to, or characteristic of an enemy: a hostile nation.
- opposed in feeling, action, or character; antagonistic: hostile criticism.
- characterized by antagonism.
- not friendly, warm, or generous; not hospitable.
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- a person or thing that is antagonistic or unfriendly.
- Military. an enemy soldier, plane, ship, etc.
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Origin of hostile
Synonyms
See more synonyms for hostile on Thesaurus.com1. warlike, aggressive. 2. adverse, averse, contrary. Hostile, inimical indicate that which characterizes an enemy or something injurious to one's interests. Hostile applies to the spirit, attitude, or action of an enemy: They showed a hostile and menacing attitude. Inimical applies to an antagonistic or injurious tendency or influence: Their remarks were inimical to his reputation.
Antonyms
1, 2. friendly. 3. sympathetic.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for hostile
Contemporary Examples
They were alone and unarmed in hostile territory without even having the reassurance of radio communications.
Heart of Darkness: Into Afghanistan’s Taliban ValleyMatt Trevithick, Daniel Seckman
November 15, 2014
De Merode is hundreds of miles from his wife and daughters, encircled by hostile forces, a target on the back of his uniform.
And she went right down into a mine area, between two hostile sides.
"The concept of a hostile work environment was being discussed, it was a new thing," she says.
“London audiences can be really, really critical and hostile,” McKell stated.
Historical Examples
They were all facing him, and their faces were alive with interest; yet they made no hostile move.
Way of the LawlessMax Brand
They must proceed, in fact, as if they were founding a great city on a hostile soil.
Stories from ThucydidesH. L. Havell
It was curious how much help he expected of Vicksburg, a hostile town.
The Rock of ChickamaugaJoseph A. Altsheler
The boy who crossed the bridge found himself in hostile country.
Micah ClarkeArthur Conan Doyle
At first suspicious and hostile, White Fang grew to like this petting.
White FangJack London
hostile
- antagonistic; opposed
- of or relating to an enemy
- unfriendly
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- a hostile person; enemy
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Word Origin
C16: from Latin hostīlis, from hostis enemy
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for hostile
adj.
late 15c., from Middle French hostile "of or belonging to an enemy" or directly from Latin hostilis "of an enemy," from hostis "enemy" (see guest). The noun meaning "hostile person" is recorded from 1838, American English, a word from the Indian wars.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper