as in war
a state of armed violent struggle between states, nations, or groups
Both sides agreed to cease all hostilities.
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Recent Examples of hostilities
The message refers to the conflict in Gaza and calls for an end to hostilities.
—
Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 15 Sep. 2025
Children bear the brunt of relentless hostilities and indiscriminate attacks, and are affected by the disregard for ceasefires and peace agreements.
—Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Just as there are others who are pushing for a more diplomatic, peaceful end to the hostilities between Harry and the royal family.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 13 Sep. 2025
Preceding the outbreak of hostilities, both Ukraine and Russia obtained these types of drones.
—Joseph Nepomuceno, The Washington Examiner, 13 Sep. 2025
The ugly episode drew howls from those lawmakers in both parties who are calling to tone down the hostilities and focus on legislating, not seeking attention on social media.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 13 Sep. 2025
Globally, frustration is mounting over the conflict, with Palestinian civilian deaths numbering in the tens of thousands and famine risks growing amid the ongoing hostilities.
—Amira El-Fekki, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Many members of Putin’s aristocracy continue to hold out hope that after the end of hostilities, everything will become, if not different, then at least milder.
—Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2025
The war ended with a lopsided Israeli victory, and with Iran scrambling to find more ways to punish and deter Israel if hostilities resumed.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2025
Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 15 Sep. 2025
Children bear the brunt of relentless hostilities and indiscriminate attacks, and are affected by the disregard for ceasefires and peace agreements.
—Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Just as there are others who are pushing for a more diplomatic, peaceful end to the hostilities between Harry and the royal family.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 13 Sep. 2025
Preceding the outbreak of hostilities, both Ukraine and Russia obtained these types of drones.
—Joseph Nepomuceno, The Washington Examiner, 13 Sep. 2025
The ugly episode drew howls from those lawmakers in both parties who are calling to tone down the hostilities and focus on legislating, not seeking attention on social media.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 13 Sep. 2025
Globally, frustration is mounting over the conflict, with Palestinian civilian deaths numbering in the tens of thousands and famine risks growing amid the ongoing hostilities.
—Amira El-Fekki, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Many members of Putin’s aristocracy continue to hold out hope that after the end of hostilities, everything will become, if not different, then at least milder.
—Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2025
The war ended with a lopsided Israeli victory, and with Iran scrambling to find more ways to punish and deter Israel if hostilities resumed.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hostilities
Noun
-
The food industry has weathered trade wars before, but this feels different in its scope and unpredictability.—
Phil Lempert,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Grain prices have returned to normalcy after the pandemic and the Ukraine-Russia war upset supply chains.—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Israel has also bombed Lebanon, Syria, Iran and Yemen in the course of the Gaza conflict.—
Jarrett Renshaw,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
-
If both polls and discussions with my friends are anything to go by, Americans feel forever locked in a state of political conflict.—
Sarah Stein Lubrano,
Mercury News,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hostilities.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hostilities. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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