hostility

[ ho-stil-i-tee ]

noun

, plural hos·til·i·ties.

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 ¹.

   Synonyms: conflict, fighting

   Antonyms: peace

hostility

/ hɒˈstɪlɪtɪ /

noun

1. enmity or antagonism
2. an act expressing enmity or opposition
3. plural fighting; warfare

Other Words From

• nonhos·tili·ty noun
• over·hos·tili·ty noun
• prehos·tili·ty noun plural prehostilities
• semi·hos·tili·ty 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

A non-crime hate incident is recorded where no criminal offence has been committed, but the person reporting it believes it was motivated by hostility.

From BBC

The Tran campaign thanked county elections workers who “continue to do their essential work in the face of lies, hostility and bomb threats.”

From Los Angeles Times

Lysenko benefited from Stalin’s suspicion of and hostility toward scientific experts, whom his henchmen denigrated as “enemies of the people” for their defense of “pure science for the sake of science.”

From Los Angeles Times

Such an attack inside Russian territory "would represent the direct involvement of the United States and its satellites in hostilities against Russia", a foreign ministry statement said.

From BBC

Monday's draft resolution, proposed by the UK and Sierra Leone, called on both sides to immediately halt hostilities and start talks aimed at agreeing a national ceasefire.

From BBC

Related Words

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