hostile

adjective

hos·​tile ˈhä-stᵊl How to pronounce hostile (audio) -ˌstī(-ə)l How to pronounce hostile (audio)
Synonyms of hostilenext
1
a
: of or relating to an enemy
hostile fire
b
: marked by malevolence : having or showing unfriendly feelings
a hostile act
c
: openly opposed or resisting
a hostile critic
hostile to new ideas
d(1)
: not hospitable
plants growing in a hostile environment
(2)
: having an intimidating, antagonistic, or offensive nature
a hostile workplace
2
a
: of or relating to the opposing party in a legal controversy
a hostile witness
b
: adverse to the interests of a property owner or corporation management
a hostile takeover
hostile noun
hostilely
ˈhä-stᵊl-(l)ē How to pronounce hostile (audio)
-ˌstī(-ə)l-lē
adverb

Synonyms

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of hostile in a Sentence

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
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Trump’s aggressive targeting of major law firms, many of which have advocated liberal policy positions and clients, also marks a striking new front in his second-term legal battles, as the administration pressures firms seen as politically hostile or unwilling to back its agenda. — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 3 May 2025 Russia will accrue enormous economic benefits if the United States facilitates its reentry into the world economy, generating revenue that will go directly to rebuilding its military, funding hostile intelligence operations and propping up a regime that’s never far from its next military adventure. — Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 1 May 2025 But a hostile encounter in the town’s general store reveals Lucas to be a kid who will lash out when challenged. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 1 May 2025 Leonard was good enough to practically claim Game 2 by himself in the hostile altitude. — Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 1 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for hostile

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 4

First Known Use

1580, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of hostile was in 1580

Phrases Containing hostile

Rhymes for hostile

See All Rhymes for hostile

Browse Nearby Words

hostess-ship
hostile
hostile embargo
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hostile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hostile. Accessed 12 May. 2025.

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Kids Definition

hostile

adjective
hos·​tile ˈhäs-tᵊl How to pronounce hostile (audio) -ˌtīl How to pronounce hostile (audio)
1
: of or relating to an enemy
hostile troops
2
: showing open resistance or opposition
a hostile critic
hostile to new things
3
: not hospitable : forbidding
a hostile environment
hostilely
-tᵊl-(l)ē How to pronounce hostile (audio)
-tīl-lē
adverb
Etymology

from early French hostile or Latin hostilis, both meaning "hostile," from Latin hostis "stranger, enemy" — related to hospital, host entry 1

Legal Definition

hostile

adjective
hos·​tile
1
: having an intimidating, antagonistic, or offensive nature
a hostile work environment
2
a
: of or relating to an opposing party in a legal action
a hostile claim
b
: adverse to the interests of a party to a legal action
if the interests of the party joined involuntarily render him hostile to the original plaintiff, he must remain a defendant— J. H. Friedenthal et al.
3
a
: adverse to or incompatible with the interests of a property owner
a hostile use
see also adverse possession at possession, easement by prescription at easement, prescription sense 1
b
: unwelcome by or contrary to the interests of corporate stockholders or management
a hostile takeover bid

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Nglish: Translation of hostile for Spanish Speakers

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