Hostility — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /hä-ˈsti-lə-tē/ hos·til·i·ty

Meaning & Definition of Hostility

Hostility (noun)

  1. deep-seated usually mutual ill will
  2. hostile action
  3. overt acts of warfare, war

Hostility (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a deep-seated ill will

    "a lingering hostility between the two neighbors ever since since they had that property-line dispute"

    similar: animosity, animus, antagonism, antipathy, bad blood, bitterness, enmity, gall, grudge, jaundice, rancor
    related: blood feud, feud, score, vendetta, hate, hatred, loathing, vindictiveness, virulence, vitriol, alienation, disaffection, estrangement, conflict, coolness, discord, friction, strain, tension, inhospitableness, unfriendliness, malice, malignancy, malignity, spite, spitefulness, venom
    opposite: amity
    near: amiability, amicability, civility, cordiality, friendliness, hospitality, neighborliness, comity, empathy, friendship, goodwill, sympathy, understanding

  2. a state of armed violent struggle between states, nations, or groups

    "Both sides agreed to cease all hostilities."

    similar: conflagration, conflict, hot war, war
    related: civil war, cold war, holy war, limited war, police action, world war, action, battle, engagement, skirmish, combat, fighting, warfare
    opposite: peace
    near: demilitarization, demobilization, disarmament, pacification, ceasefire, truce, calm, peacefulness, tranquility

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Hostility

The most common words with a similar meaning to Hostility:

animosity, animus, antagonism, antipathy, bad blood, bitterness, enmity, gall, grudge, jaundice, rancor, conflagration, conflict, hot war, war

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Hostility

Words with the opposite meaning of Hostility:

amity, peace

Related Words for Hostility

blood feud, feud, score, vendetta, hate, hatred, loathing, vindictiveness, virulence, vitriol, alienation, disaffection, estrangement, coolness, discord, friction, strain, tension, inhospitableness, unfriendliness, malice, malignancy, malignity, spite, spitefulness, venom, civil war, cold war, holy war, limited war

Near Antonyms of Hostility

amiability, amicability, civility, cordiality, friendliness, hospitality, neighborliness, comity, empathy, friendship, goodwill, sympathy, understanding, demilitarization, demobilization, disarmament, pacification, ceasefire, truce, calm, peacefulness, tranquility

Word Forms of Hostility

Inflections: hostilities

Origin & Etymology of Hostility

Middle English hostilite, hostilitie, borrowed from Late Latin hostīlitāt-, hostīlitās, from Latin hostīlis "of an enemy, hostile" + -itāt-, -itās -ity

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Hostility

Frequently Asked Questions about Hostility

What does "Hostility" mean?

"Hostility" means deep-seated usually mutual ill will. As a noun, it is defined as: deep-seated usually mutual ill will. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Hostility"?

Other words for "Hostility" include animosity, animus, antagonism, antipathy, bad blood, bitterness, enmity and gall. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Hostility" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Hostility"?

There are 54 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Hostility". Common alternatives include animosity, animus, antagonism, antipathy, bad blood, bitterness, enmity, gall, grudge and jaundice.

What is the opposite of "Hostility"?

Antonyms of "Hostility" include amity and peace. Near antonyms include amiability, amicability, civility and cordiality.

How do you use "Hostility" in a sentence?

Examples of "Hostility" in a sentence: "a lingering hostility between the two neighbors ever since since they had that property-line dispute"; "Both sides agreed to cease all hostilities.".

Is "Hostility" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Hostility" is a noun.

Is "Hostility" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Hostility" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Hostility"?

"Hostility" is pronounced /hä-ˈsti-lə-tē/ and divided into syllables as hos·til·i·ty.