hostility

[ho-stil-i-tee]

noun

plural

hostilities 

1. a hostile state, condition, or attitude; enmity; antagonism; unfriendliness.

   Synonyms: hatred, ill will, animus, animosity
   Antonyms: friendliness

2. a hostile act.

3. opposition or resistance to an idea, plan, project, etc.

4. hostilities,

   1. acts of warfare.

   2. war.

   Synonyms: conflict, fighting
   Antonyms: peace

hostility

/ hɒˈstɪlɪtɪ /

noun

1. enmity or antagonism

2. an act expressing enmity or opposition

3. (plural) fighting; warfare

Other Word Forms

• nonhostility noun
• overhostility noun
• prehostility noun
• semihostility noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of hostility¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English hostilite, from Latin hostīlitās, from hostīl(is) ( hostile ) + -itās -ity

Example Sentences

"At this stage, it's just to annoy us, it's part of the Russians' displays of hostility. They're trying to humiliate us," said a French security source, requesting not to be named.

Read more on Barron's

It appears to suggest that, even if the negotiations reach an impasse, hostilities will not resume.

Read more on BBC

Transphobia doesn’t have to announce itself with slurs or overt hostility.

Read more on Salon

To prove vindictive prosecution, a defendant must show through objective evidence that the prosecutor acted with “genuine animus” and that the defendant would not have been prosecuted except for that hostility.

Read more on Salon

“I saw open hostility to people of authority by community members in England,” Rabbi Dunner says.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• aggression 
• animosity 
• antagonism 
• antipathy 
• bitterness 
• enmity 
• estrangement 
• hatred 
• ill will 
• opposition 
• rancor 
• resentment 
• war