Hostility: meaning, definitions and examples

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hostility

 

[ hɒˈstɪlɪti ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

in a conflict

Hostility refers to unfriendly or aggressive feelings or behavior towards someone or something. It can manifest in various ways, such as verbal attacks, physical violence, or a hostile attitude.

Synonyms

animosity, antagonism, enmity

Examples of usage

  • He could sense the hostility in the room as soon as he walked in.
  • The two countries were locked in a state of hostility for years.
  • She responded to his criticism with open hostility.
Context #2 | Noun

in a relationship

Hostility can also refer to a state of opposition or resistance in a relationship. It often involves a lack of cooperation, trust, or goodwill towards the other party.

Synonyms

conflict, friction, tension

Examples of usage

  • The hostility between the two business partners was evident in their tense meetings.
  • There was a palpable sense of hostility between the siblings, stemming from years of unresolved conflicts.

Translations

Translations of the word "hostility" in other languages:

🇵🇹 hostilidade

🇮🇳 शत्रुता

🇩🇪 Feindseligkeit

🇮🇩 permusuhan

🇺🇦 ворожість

🇵🇱 wrogość

🇯🇵 敵意 (てきい)

🇫🇷 hostilité

🇪🇸 hostilidad

🇹🇷 düşmanlık

🇰🇷 적대감 (jeokdaegam)

🇸🇦 عداء

🇨🇿 nepřátelství

🇸🇰 nepriateľstvo

🇨🇳 敌意 (dí yì)

🇸🇮 sovražnost

🇮🇸 fjandskapur

🇰🇿 қастық

🇬🇪 მტრული

🇦🇿 düşmənçilik

🇲🇽 hostilidad

Etymology

The word 'hostility' has its origins in the Latin word 'hostilitas', which means 'enmity' or 'hostility'. It has been used in English since the late 16th century to describe the state of being hostile or antagonistic towards someone or something. Over the centuries, the word has retained its core meaning while adapting to different contexts of conflict and opposition.

See also: hostilely.

Word Frequency Rank

At #6,363 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.