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hostile

hos·tile

hostile

 
 
pronunciation:
ha stihl [or] ha staIl
features:
Word Combinations (adjective), Homophone Note, Word Explorer, Word Parts
part of speech: adjective
definition 1: of or relating to an enemy or antagonist.
The hostile army was preparing its attack on our forces.The two hostile nations seem to be on the brink of war.
synonyms:
enemy, inimical, opposing
antonyms:
allied, peaceful
similar words:
aggressive, belligerent, warlike, warring
definition 2: feeling or showing dislike, ill will, or antagonism.
The teenager responded to her mother's comment with a hostile remark.The hostile look she gave him made it clear that there was no chance of a reconciliation.The hostile prisoner was restrained by the police.He'd always been hostile toward his ex-wife, but he'd never been violent until now.
synonyms:
antagonistic, unfavorable, unfriendly
antonyms:
benign, friendly, genial, warm
similar words:
acrimonious, aggressive, antisocial, argumentative, bellicose, belligerent, combative, contentious, fractious, ill, malicious, offensive, quarrelsome, savage, surly, truculent, ugly
definition 3: disagreeable or disadvantageous; inhospitable.
Antarctica has a hostile climate for humans.
synonyms:
disadvantageous, disagreeable, inhospitable, unfriendly, unpropitious
antonyms:
favorable
similar words:
adverse, forbidding, harsh, inhuman, inimical, unpleasant
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
derivation: hostilely (adv.)
Homophone Note
The words hostile and hostel sound alike but have different meanings. To find out why you'd never want to stay in a hostel whose owners were hostile, look up hostel.
Word Explorer
See
  hate, relationship
Word PartsSubscriber feature About this feature