English Explanatory Dictionary

hostile

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Not friendly; appropriate to an enemy; showing the disposition of an enemy; showing ill will and malevolence or a desire to thwart and injure.
  2. Aggressive; antagonistic.
  3. Unwilling.
  4. Being or relating to a hostile takeover.
noun
  1. An enemy.

Pronunciation

/ˈhɒstaɪl/ /ˈhɒstəl/ /ˈhɑstəl/ /ˈhɑstaɪl/ en-us-hostile.ogg

Word forms

hostile more hostile most hostile hostiles

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French hostile, from Latin hostīlis, from hostis (“enemy”). Displaced Old English fēondlīċ.

Synonyms

antagonistic hateful adverse conflicting contentious counteracting hostile incompatible inharmonious inimical irreconcilable opposed repugnant unbefriending unfriendly unharmonious unpartial

Antonyms

friendly cooperative helpful

Related words

hostility hostilely host

Derived words

go hostile hostile architecture hostile environment hostilely hostileness hostile possession hostile vehicle hostile witness hostilize nonhostile semihostile unhostile user-hostile
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