hostile
21 synonyms and 3 antonyms for hostile, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Unfriendly or aggressive, like an enemy.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use hostile
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Latin hostilis, "of an enemy," from hostis, "enemy" or "stranger."
Full origin of hostile →Frequently asked questions
What does “hostile” mean?
The word “hostile” means unfriendly or aggressive, like an enemy. In plain terms, unfriendly, aggressive, or opposed — like the attitude of an enemy.
How do you pronounce “hostile”?
“Hostile” is pronounced HOS-tyl (/ˈhɑstəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “hostile” in a sentence?
Here is “hostile” used in a sentence: “The crowd grew hostile as the referee made another bad call.”
What is another word for “hostile”?
Words with a similar meaning to “hostile” include antagonistic, hateful, adverse, conflicting, contentious and counteracting.
What is the opposite of “hostile”?
The opposite of “hostile” — its antonyms — are friendly, cooperative and helpful.
What part of speech is “hostile”?
“Hostile” is an adjective.
Where does the word “hostile” come from?
The word “hostile” comes from Latin. From Latin hostilis, "of an enemy," from hostis, "enemy" or "stranger.".
Is “hostile” a common word?
“Hostile” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
What is the difference between hostile and aggressive?
Hostile describes an unfriendly, enemy-like attitude, while aggressive describes forceful behavior or readiness to attack. Someone can be hostile without doing anything openly aggressive — a cold silence can be hostile — whereas aggression is active and often physical or verbal.
Is it "hostile to" or "hostile toward"?
Both are correct: "hostile to the idea" and "hostile toward strangers" are each standard English. "Hostile to" is generally the more common pairing, particularly in British English, while American English uses both freely.