hostility

noun

hos·​til·​i·​ty hä-ˈsti-lə-tē 

plural hostilities

1

a

: deep-seated usually mutual ill will

glad to have gotten through the divorce proceedings without any visible signs of hostility

showed open hostility toward outsiders

b(1)

: hostile action

the Spanish expedition encountered hostility … and was forced to flee

—R. W. Murray

(2)

hostilities plural : overt acts of warfare : war

Peace talks were stalled after recent hostilities.

2

: conflict, opposition, or resistance in thought or principle

there was tension, there was hostility and envy in the air

—Theodor Reik

Synonyms

• animosity
• animus
• antagonism
• antipathy
• bad blood
• bitterness
• enmity
• gall
• grudge
• jaundice
• rancor

Choose the Right Synonym for hostility

enmity, hostility, antipathy, antagonism, animosity, rancor, animus mean deep-seated dislike or ill will.

enmity suggests positive hatred which may be open or concealed.

an unspoken enmity

hostility suggests an enmity showing itself in attacks or aggression.

hostility between the two nations

antipathy and antagonism imply a natural or logical basis for one's hatred or dislike, antipathy suggesting repugnance, a desire to avoid or reject, and antagonism suggesting a clash of temperaments leading readily to hostility.

a natural antipathy for self-seekers

antagonism between the brothers

animosity suggests intense ill will and vindictiveness that threaten to kindle hostility.

animosity that led to revenge

rancor is especially applied to bitter brooding over a wrong.

rancor filled every line of his letters

animus adds to animosity the implication of strong prejudice.

objections devoid of personal animus

Examples of hostility in a Sentence

They were both glad to have gotten through the divorce proceedings without any visible signs of hostility.

The townspeople showed open hostility to outsiders.

Peace talks were stalled after recent hostilities.

Both sides are calling for a cessation of hostilities.

Recent Examples on the Web

Police said Mangione was in possession of a firearm matching the one used in the shooting, a fake ID and a notebook expressing hostility toward the health insurance industry and wealthy executives. —Katherine Fung, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 2025

The stakes for Thursday's game were raised amid physical hostility between the teams throughout the tournament and geopolitical tension between the two countries in recent weeks. —Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 21 Feb. 2025

Understanding and acknowledging the feelings and perspectives of all parties is key to creating a safe space for open communication, which can reduce defensiveness and hostility and foster mutual respect. —Dileep Marway, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025

Some consequences of the fear of deportation and anti-immigrant hostility are easy to see, like when children miss school. —Kristina Fullerton Rico, The Conversation, 19 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English hostilite, hostilitie, borrowed from Late Latin hostīlitāt-, hostīlitās, from Latin hostīlis "of an enemy, hostile" + -itāt-, -itās -ity

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for hostility

• ability
• agility
• civility
• debility
• docility
• ductility
• facility
• fertility
• fragility
• futility
• gentility
• humility

Kids Definition

hostility

noun

hos·​til·​i·​ty hä-ˈstil-ət-ē 

plural hostilities

1

: a hostile state, attitude, or action

2

plural : acts of warfare

Medical Definition

hostility

noun

hos·​til·​i·​ty hä-ˈstil-ət-ē 

plural hostilities

: conflict, opposition, or resistance in thought or principle

hostile

ˈhäs-tᵊl  -ˌtīl 

adjective