1
as in negative
marked by opposition or ill will
the suggestions for change were given a hostile reception by some of the longtime employees
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unfavorable
opposed to one's interests
the company's president vows to fight the hostile takeover by the giant corporation
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in enemy
one that is hostile toward another
reports of hostiles in the area kept the settlers on edge
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hostile
J.c. Hallman, Oklahoman, 10 Feb. 2026
Netflix on the counter-offensive Meanwhile, Netflix has been ramping up its PR battle against Paramount’s hostile bid.
—Andrew Kirell, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
Matthew Stolle, Twin Cities, 28 Jan. 2026
Deputy District Attorney Scott Pirrello told jurors that Bushey had a history of acting hostile toward family members and that his sister’s abrupt presence in the home set him off, leading him to act out and her to fear for her safety.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hostile
Adjective
In a measured but hostile tone, Rhoades called attention to a great number of complaints that had come from Coppermark.
—J.c. Hallman, Oklahoman, 10 Feb. 2026
Netflix on the counter-offensive Meanwhile, Netflix has been ramping up its PR battle against Paramount’s hostile bid.
—Andrew Kirell, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
Noun
But no one has just been out-and-out hostile to him.
—Matthew Stolle, Twin Cities, 28 Jan. 2026
Deputy District Attorney Scott Pirrello told jurors that Bushey had a history of acting hostile toward family members and that his sister’s abrupt presence in the home set him off, leading him to act out and her to fear for her safety.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hostile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hostile
Adjective
-
What is, perhaps, a surprise is seeing a long-term trend, particularly apparent on decadal timescales, that tends towards a brighter (more negative) visual magnitude.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The prior year featured consistently modest gains and several months of negative growth for payrolls.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
On some of the country’s biggest lakes, often hundreds of miles wide with no current, an unfavorable wind made a waterway impassible.—
Outside,
Outside,
7 Feb. 2026
-
That is, clinicians have a duty to restrict the range of clinical options, because medical interventions with unfavorable risk/benefit profiles can set back patients’ health interests rather than protecting or promoting them.—
Torie Bosch,
STAT,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Calling out corporate entities and concentration of power as enemies also appears to be a winning strategy for Democrats in their messaging tactics.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Liverpool were their own worst enemy as their hopes of Champions League qualification suffered another blow.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
That agreement committed both nations to consult on security issues and respond to adverse challenges.—
NINIEK KARMINI,
Arkansas Online,
8 Feb. 2026
-
This fragmentation creates blind spots that contribute to adverse drug events, duplication of therapy and inefficient care and harms that ultimately drive up total health care costs.—
Sreedhar Potarazu,
Baltimore Sun,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
In order to rule in her favor, jurors will have to parse the harmful actions of fellow users — including her high school bullies and adult men sending her unsolicited nudes — from design decisions made by the companies themselves.—
Sonja Sharp,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Many of these jars contain unknown or poorly documented chemical mixtures that could be toxic to humans or harmful to the specimens themselves if disturbed.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Dhakshineswar Suresh Ekambaram, a college tennis star at Wake Forest, leading India to a sensational 3-2 win over the Netherlands, taking the deciding rubber despite a 290-place rankings deficit to opponent Guy den Ouden.—
James Hansen,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
In the weeks leading up to that election, Nanos reportedly placed his opponent Heather Lappin, a lieutenant at the Pima County Jail, on administrative leave, ordering her not to discuss the reasoning for his decision.—
Peter D'Abrosca , Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Díaz doesn’t expect openly antagonistic messaging at the halftime show — perhaps the lighter-blue Puerto Rican independence flag as a covert anti-occupation gesture.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Crowe will portray a swordsman who mentors Cavill's Highlander, and Bautista will play an antagonistic immortal known as the Kurgen, while Gillan will star as Connor's very mortal wife.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The Hungarian midfielder had looked set to bask in the glory of being Liverpool’s match-winner against old foes Manchester City at Anfield.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Joe Schoen is on the verge of handing a Super Bowl to back-to-back NFC foes if the Seattle Seahawks topple the New England Patriots Sunday at Levi’s Stadium.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hostile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hostile. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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