hostile

hostile — adjective

1. showing strong dislike or anger toward someone, often ready to confront or quarr

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

showing strong dislike or anger toward someone, often ready to confront or quarrel

Example

The crowd grew hostile when the referee made a decision against the home team.

grew hostile (became unfriendly and angry)

Samir's hostile tone during the meeting made everyone feel uncomfortable.

hostile tone

Common collocations
  • hostile attitude
  • hostile look
  • hostile tone
  • hostile manner
  • hostile toward
Synonyms
  • unfriendly

    the most general word; describes a lack of warmth rather than active anger

  • aggressive

    suggests a stronger tendency to attack or confront rather than just feel dislike

  • antagonistic

    more formal; implies actively working against someone or something

Antonyms
  • friendly

    showing warmth and kindness toward others

  • welcoming

    actively making someone feel accepted and at ease

Grammar Patterns

hostile + toward/to + noun

Usage Note

Often describes a person's manner, look, tone, or overall attitude. Frequently followed by 'to' or 'toward' to specify the target of the hostility.

Common Mistakes

She was hostile with me.
She was hostile toward me.
The correct preposition after 'hostile' when referring to a person is 'toward' (or 'to'), not 'with'.

2. strongly refusing to accept a particular idea, suggestion, or change

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

strongly refusing to accept a particular idea, suggestion, or change

Example

Many residents were hostile to the plan to build a highway through the park.

hostile to [plan / idea / proposal]

The company faced a hostile reaction from workers when it announced job cuts.

hostile reaction / hostile response

Common collocations
  • hostile to
  • hostile toward
  • hostile reaction
  • hostile response
Synonyms
  • opposed

    more neutral; states disagreement without the emotional charge of 'hostile'

  • resistant

    suggests active efforts to prevent something from happening

  • against

    the simplest and most informal alternative

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

hostile + to + noun/gerund

Usage Note

Typically followed by the preposition 'to' (e.g., 'hostile to reform'). The subject is often a group of people, and the object is an abstract idea, policy, or change.

Common Mistakes

The manager was hostile about the proposal.
The manager was hostile to the proposal.
Use 'to', not 'about', after 'hostile' when expressing opposition to an idea.

3. describing conditions that are extremely difficult for people, animals, or plant

3.adjectiveB2
Definition

describing conditions that are extremely difficult for people, animals, or plants to survive or develop in

Example

Only a few hardy plants can survive in the hostile climate of the high desert.

hostile climate / hostile environment

The astronauts trained to work in the hostile conditions of outer space.

Common collocations
  • hostile environment
  • hostile climate
  • hostile conditions
  • hostile terrain
Synonyms
  • inhospitable

    the closest synonym; a more formal but directly equivalent word for this sense

  • harsh

    broader; can describe weather or treatment, not limited to survival contexts

  • unfavorable

    milder; suggests conditions are not ideal rather than severely difficult

Antonyms
  • hospitable

    describing conditions that are welcoming and easy to live in

  • favorable

    suggesting conditions that help growth or success

Grammar Patterns

hostile + noun (environment / climate / conditions)

Usage Note

Commonly modifies nouns that describe natural settings — 'climate', 'territory', 'environment', 'conditions'. Unlike senses 1 and 2, this sense does not involve people's feelings or opinions.

4. belonging to the opposing side in a war or military conflict

4.adjectiveB2
Definition

belonging to the opposing side in a war or military conflict

Example

The army moved its tanks into hostile territory at dawn.

hostile territory

The pilot identified the aircraft as a hostile fighter approaching from the east.

hostile aircraft / hostile fighter

Common collocations
  • hostile territory
  • hostile forces
  • hostile aircraft
  • hostile fire
Synonyms
  • enemy

    the direct equivalent, though 'enemy' can also be a noun; 'hostile' sounds more formal or technical

  • opposing

    a neutral term; can refer to any conflict, not just military

  • adversarial

    broader; used in legal, political, or competitive contexts as well

Antonyms
  • allied

    belonging to one's own side in a conflict

  • friendly

    in military contexts, 'friendly forces' means forces on one's own side

Grammar Patterns

hostile + noun (territory / forces / aircraft)

Usage Note

Used almost exclusively in attributive position (before a noun). Common in military reports and news coverage of armed conflicts. Do not use this sense for personal disagreements — use sense 1 instead.

5. describing an attempt by one company to gain control of another company against

5.adjectiveC1
Definition

describing an attempt by one company to gain control of another company against the wishes of the target company's owners or managers

Example

The board took several actions to prevent a hostile takeover by a larger competitor.

hostile takeover

Allison's firm advised the company on how to defend against a hostile bid.

hostile bid

Common collocations
  • hostile takeover
  • hostile bid
  • hostile merger
Synonyms
  • unwelcome

    a milder general term; lacks the specific business context

  • unsolicited

    formal; describes a bid made without the target's invitation

  • contested

    describes a takeover that is being fought; focuses on the resistance rather than the initiator

Antonyms
  • friendly

    in business contexts, a 'friendly takeover' is one approved by the target company's board

Grammar Patterns

hostile + takeover / bid / merger

Usage Note

Almost always appears as part of the fixed phrases 'hostile takeover' or 'hostile bid' in business-news contexts. Not used independently (e.g., 'a hostile company' does not have this meaning).

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All three words describe negative, confrontational behaviour, but they differ in intensity and scope. 'Unfriendly' is the mildest and most general — it covers anything from a cold silence to a lack of warmth ('The shop assistant gave me an unfriendly look'). 'Hostile' is stronger, implying active dislike or anger that may lead to confrontation ('The audience grew hostile when the speaker mocked their beliefs'). 'Antagonistic' is the most formal and suggests deliberate, ongoing opposition rather than a single outburst ('The two politicians have been antagonistic toward each other for years'). For everyday situations, 'unfriendly' is the safest choice; 'hostile' suits more dramatic or intense conflicts; 'antagonistic' fits formal or written descriptions of long-running disputes.

hostile ↗unfriendly ↗antagonistic

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • openly hostile
  • increasingly hostile
  • deeply hostile
  • actively hostile
  • visibly hostile

Phrases

  • hostile to the idea
  • hostile takeover bid
  • hostile work environment

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'hostile' entered English in the late 1500s from French 'hostile', which came from Latin 'hostilis' meaning 'of an enemy'. The Latin root 'hostis' originally meant 'stranger' or 'foreigner' before taking on the meaning 'enemy' — a shift that reflects how ancient societies often viewed outsiders as potential threats. The business sense of 'hostile takeover' emerged in the mid-20th century as a metaphor drawn from military conflict.