Synonyms for hostile
- adjective
- noun
Most common
All synonyms
Adjective
1. Unfriendly — not friendly; appropriate to an enemy; showing the disposition of an enemy; showing ill will and malevolence…
unfriendly, antagonistic, inimical, belligerent, opposing, inhospitable, aggressive, adverse, repugnant, opposed, hateful, unsympathetic, alien, unfavorable US, unfavourable UK, warlike, irreconcilable, contentious, cold, averse, opposite, contrary, incompatible
Other
Noun
Definitions
- 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.
hostile to a sudden change
- n. 1
An enemy.
Related words
- Word family
- hostilely hostility host
- Phrases
- hostile witness hostile possession
- Is a kind of
- contrary
Forms
- Plural
- hostiles → enemies, rivals, opponents…
Choose the right word
In their figurative use, that is foreign which is remote, unlike, or unconnected; that is alien which is conflicting, hostile, or opposed.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- unfriendly Tom told Mary that he thought John was unfriendly.
- belligerent She flaunts a belligerent attitude.
- antagonistic The two countries are antagonistic to each other.
- inimical Your actions are inimical to the revolution.
- sharp The knife we used to cut the bread with was sharp.
- bitter The wronged parties couldn't help but feel bitter.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| hostile | steady | |
| unfriendly | steady | |
| belligerent | steady | |
| antagonistic | steady | |
| inimical | falling | |
| sharp | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- ill1
- 4 letters
- cold1
- 5 letters
- enemy3, sharp1, alien3, rival2
- 6 letters
- bitter2, averse2
- 7 letters
- opposed2, adverse2, hateful2, warlike2
- 8 letters
- opposite3, contrary3, opponent3, opposing3, inimical4
- 9 letters
- repugnant3
- 10 letters
- aggressive3, unfriendly3
- 11 letters
- contentious3, unfavorable5, belligerent4
- 12 letters
- incompatible5, antagonistic5, inhospitable5, unfavourable, inharmonious, unharmonious
- 13 letters
- unsympathetic5
- 14 letters
- irreconcilable6
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (enemy3 = 3 syllables).