hostile
Hostile (adjective) means Unfriendly or aggressive, like an enemy. Example: “The crowd grew hostile as the referee made another bad call.”
How to use hostile
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUnfriendly, aggressive, or opposed — like the attitude of an enemy.
Word forms
more hostile comparative, hostiles plural, most hostile superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The crowd grew _____ as the referee made another bad call.
Etymology
From Latin hostilis, "of an enemy," from hostis, "enemy" or "stranger."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for hostile
See all rhymes for 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.
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