inhospitable
Americanadjective
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not inclined to, or characterized by, hospitality, as persons or actions; unfriendly.
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(of a region, climate, etc.) not offering shelter, favorable conditions, etc.; barren.
an inhospitable rocky coast.
adjective
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not hospitable; unfriendly
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(of a region, an environment, etc) lacking a favourable climate, terrain, etc
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of inhospitable
1560–70; < Middle French < Medieval Latin inhospitābilis. See in- 3, hospitable
Explanation
Inhospitable places aren't easy or comfortable to live in, and inhospitable people can be downright unfriendly — even hostile. A hotel is particularly inhospitable if it's got uncomfortable beds and grouchy desk clerks. Northern Minnesota is inhospitable in January, and many parts of India are inhospitable in the summertime — they are harsh, difficult places for most people. You're inhospitable to a visitor in your home if you don't offer a drink or ask if they want to sit, or in other ways try to make them comfortable. To be hospitable is to be friendly or pleasant, and when you add the "not" prefix in-, you get inhospitable.
Vocabulary lists containing inhospitable
This Week in Words: April 22 - 27, 2018
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This Week in Words: May 18–24, 2019
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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.
"But as you can see behind me, this is one of the most inhospitable places in the United States," he said.
From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026
Baccalaureate exams - the French equivalent of A-levels - will continue during the heatwaves, despite some schools having to shut their doors due to inhospitable temperatures inside.
From BBC ● May 28, 2026
With her inquisitive eyes and lush, white tail, which she wraps around herself like a scarf, Rana is a friendly guide to an inhospitable world.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 20, 2026
What makes California so inhospitable to the upper-crust aspirants?
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 23, 2025
Once the colonists had reached the shores of Greater Australia, they spread quickly over the whole continent to occupy even its farthest reaches and most inhospitable habitats.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
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.
