Definition Synonyms
Definition of hostile - Reverso English Dictionary
Adjective
1.
behaviorunfriendly and aggressive in behavior or attitude
- The dog was hostile towards strangers.
2.
oppositionopposed or antagonistic to an idea or person
- She was hostile to the new policy.
3.
environmentvery unfavorable or difficult for success
- The desert is a hostile environment.
4.
militaryrelating to enemy forces or actions
- The troops entered hostile territory.
5.
businessTECH. unsolicited and resisted by the target companyTECH.
- The company faced a hostile takeover bid.
Noun
militaryenemy or adversary, often in military contexts
- The hostiles were advancing towards the border.
Expressions with hostile
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
receive an unfriendly response from others
The politician got a hostile reception at the rally.
turn against someone or something
The crowd began to go hostile after the announcement.
place or situation where people feel unwelcome or threatened
The team worked in a hostile environment every day.
gunfire or attack from an enemy
The soldiers took cover from hostile fire.
takeover of a company against its will
The company faced a hostile acquisition by its competitor.
attempt to take over a company without consent
The company faced a hostile bid from a larger competitor.
military campaign in a foreign country
The army launched a hostile expedition to capture the fort.
witness giving unfavorable evidence against calling party
The lawyer was surprised by the hostile witness's testimony.
merger opposed by the target company's management
The company faced a hostile merger from its competitor.
acquisition opposed by target company's management
The company faced a hostile takeover last year.
attempt to buy a company against its will
The company faced a hostile takeover bid from a larger competitor.
Origin of hostile
Latin, hostilis (of an enemy)
Terms with hostile included in their meaning
💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
conflict
hostile nation or military force
relationship
person very hostile or disliked
military battle
hostile meeting of military forces
conflict
intensely hostile or aggressive
non-hostile
without any hostility
military
quick hostile incursion in battle
social insult
person seen as cruel, violent or openly hostile
hostile behavior
showing active opposition or hostility
hostility
opposed to or hostile toward the United States
behavior
hostile or unfriendly towards others
conflict
pursue or follow with hostile intent
conflict
make a tense situation less dangerous or hostile
communication
letters sent to someone with hostile or threatening messages
hostile
harboring feelings of hatred towards others
expression
used to describe a very angry or hostile look
hostility
hostile feeling towards someone or something
emotion
hostile feelings or enmity towards others
paranoia
feeling targeted by someone's hostile intentions
international forces
related to maintaining peace between hostile groups
sensitive reaction
regard remarks as offensive or hostile
misunderstanding
misunderstand remarks as offensive or hostile
people or behavior
not kind or welcoming, or showing hostile behavior
hostile attitude
showing strong dislike or opposition to Christianity
hostile attitude
showing dislike or hostility toward Jewish people
Examples of hostile in a sentence
The negotiations were hindered by his hostile attitude. The crowd was hostile towards the speaker. His hostile attitude made negotiations difficult. Young plants struggle in hostile soil. The startup faced a hostile market for new products. The soldiers prepared for a hostile attack.
Hostile forces were detected near the border. The board rejected the hostile merger proposal. Investors were wary of the hostile acquisition attempt. The soldiers prepared to engage the hostiles. Reconnaissance identified several hostiles in the area.
View all translations of hostile
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:hostile, adversaire, ...
- German:feindselig, Feind, ...
- Italian:ostile, contrario, ...
- Spanish:hostil, adversario, ...
- Portuguese:agressivo, adverso, ...
- Chinese:敌对的, 敌人, ...
- Japanese:敵対的な, 敵, ...
- Arabic:عَدَائِي, عَدُو, ...
- Hebrew:עוֹיֵן, אוֹיֵב, ...
- Russian:враждебный, враг, ...
- Ukrainian:ворожий, ворог, ...
- Hindi:शत्रुतापूर्ण, शत्रु, ...
icon to discover related terms: analogies, antonyms, common collocates, words with same roots, umbrella terms… Try with happening or hunch.
icon next to the first example to see two additional options and learn to use new vocabulary naturally.
icon to save words you want to revisit. You can also save a specific meaning by clicking on the