1
as in negative
marked by opposition or ill will
the suggestions for change were given a hostile reception by some of the longtime employees
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unfavorable
opposed to one's interests
the company's president vows to fight the hostile takeover by the giant corporation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in enemy
one that is hostile toward another
reports of hostiles in the area kept the settlers on edge
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hostile
Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2025
Trump expanded his popular-vote totals in both elections following 2016, despite running on an increasingly hostile and divisive platform.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2025
If this is an opening salvo from a hostile new administration, then the time is right for Connecticut residents who continue to believe in the sanctity of hospitality to come together, and to push back the night.
—Rev. Steven R. Jungkeit, Hartford Courant, 4 Feb. 2025
Warmbier, 22, a University of Virginia student, stole a propaganda banner from a hotel during a visit to Pyongyang in January 2016 and was later sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for committing a hostile act against the government.
—Astha Rajvanshi, NBC News, 4 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for hostile 
Adjective
Those may contain information about a person’s vulnerabilities that would be useful to the hostile foreign governments that hope to recruit NNSA employees to their cause.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2025
Trump expanded his popular-vote totals in both elections following 2016, despite running on an increasingly hostile and divisive platform.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2025
If this is an opening salvo from a hostile new administration, then the time is right for Connecticut residents who continue to believe in the sanctity of hospitality to come together, and to push back the night.
—Rev. Steven R. Jungkeit, Hartford Courant, 4 Feb. 2025
Warmbier, 22, a University of Virginia student, stole a propaganda banner from a hotel during a visit to Pyongyang in January 2016 and was later sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for committing a hostile act against the government.
—Astha Rajvanshi, NBC News, 4 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for hostile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hostile
Adjective
-
That’s what happened in Cleveland, where business advocates didn’t see much negative impact to local shops simply because there weren’t many there to begin with, Shah recalls.—
Elliott Wenzler,
The Denver Post,
16 Feb. 2025
-
For some pets, especially those with past negative experiences, loud noises, sudden movements, or aggressive tones can be triggering.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
16 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Despite unfavorable reviews and terrible audience scores, the 35th entry in Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe arrived slightly above projections and ranks as the biggest opening weekend of the year.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
16 Feb. 2025
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According to a Quinnipiac University poll, only 31 percent of Americans have a favorable view of the Democratic Party, and more than half of respondents have an unfavorable view of it.—
Elizabeth Currid-Halkett,
National Review,
16 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
This go round, audiences saw them being buried alive, interrogated by the enemy for hours, running mercilessly, and jumping off a bridge.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
EW.com,
6 Feb. 2025
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The Trump administration’s version of justice rewards his friends and excludes his enemies.—
Laura Washington,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The unions argue that the offer fails to consider possible adverse consequences to the government's ability to function; sets an arbitrarily short deadline; and is pretext for removing and replacing workers on an ideological basis, among other things.—
Andrea Hsu,
NPR,
6 Feb. 2025
-
The study said adverse side effects and cost were the most common reasons patients stopped the drugs that were documented in clinical notes.—
Annika Kim Constantino,Ashley Capoot,
CNBC,
4 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Listeria is especially harmful to people who are pregnant, aged 65 or older, or with weakened immune systems, according to the CDC.—
Kelly Tyko,
Axios,
10 Feb. 2025
-
Many invasive species end up in U.S. ecosystems when people release aquarium pets that are harmful to native species.—
Kate Linderman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The team initially was meant to legitimately compete against the Globetrotters but eventually became the ultimate crash test dummy for its opponents donning red, white and blue on the hardwood.—
Jason Jones,
The Athletic,
15 Feb. 2025
-
In their appeals, the opponents’ raised many issues, ranging from air quality concerns to traffic impacts.—
Barbara Henry,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The long-time TV veteran, who got her start on Days of Our Lives (1989–1990), maintained a recurring part as dominatrix Lady Heather on CSI (2001–2011) and later booked another meaty antagonistic role in Nikita (2010–2013).—
Sezin Devi Koehler,
EW.com,
8 Feb. 2025
-
Eventually, the soldiers are accompanied by antagonistic settlers looking to impose their will through violence.—
Tim Grierson,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Thus the ending of the old monarch was properly marked by friends and foes alike.—
Contributed Content,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
-
The senior battled in the post, fronting and denying his much taller foe both good position and the ball in the fourth quarter of a pivotal Oakland Athletic League game.—
Christian Babcock,
The Mercury News,
6 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near hostile
Cite this Entry
“Hostile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hostile. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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