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Synonyms

hostile takeover

American  

noun

Business.

  1. a takeover that is not approved by the management of the corporation being acquired or that is accomplished through the secret purchase of stock.

Etymology

Origin of hostile takeover

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Though that was rebuffed by Warner's board, Paramount on Tuesday said it was still encouraging shareholders to back its offer, in what amounts to a hostile takeover attempt.

From Barron's • Feb. 24, 2026

Undeterred, Paramount chief executive David Ellison launched a hostile takeover bid, taking his suit directly to shareholders.

From BBC • Feb. 10, 2026

Rival bidder Paramount has made clear it will continue its hostile takeover attempt for Warner Bros., despite some setbacks.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 20, 2026

After the Netflix deal was announced, Paramount launched a hostile takeover offer for Warner.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 17, 2026

If there was ever a moment to declare you like someone, it was with a churro in your hand and a day of protesting a greedy land developer’s hostile takeover of your neighborhood behind you.

From "The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora" by Pablo Cartaya

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.