Meaning
Characterized by an antagonistic or aggressive disposition, often manifesting in actions or attitudes that are openly unfriendly or adversarial, particularly in contexts involving conflict or competition.
💡 The term "hostile" is often used in legal and political contexts to describe situations where opposition is not only present but also actively expressed; it is crucial to differentiate it from mere disagreement, which may not carry the same connotation of aggression.
Example Sentences
Word in Context
The
atmosphere
in
the
meeting
room
was
tense
after
the
unexpected
budget
cuts
,
and
most
people
kept
their
remarks
short
.
When
a
senior
analyst
made
a
pointed
comment
about
priorities
,
the
response
from
the
rival
team
felt
openly
hostile
rather
than
constructive
.
The
project
manager
stepped
in
to
defuse
the
situation
,
suggesting
a
short
break
and
a
clear
agenda
for
the
rest
of
the
discussion
.
During
the
break
,
two
colleagues
quietly
outlined
possible
compromises
and
acknowledged
the
pressure
everyone
was
under
,
which
calmed
the
visible
tension
.
By
the
time
they
reconvened
,
participants
were
more
willing
to
negotiate
and
the
meeting
moved
toward
a
practical
resolution
without
further
escalation
.
Common Phrases
hostile environment
hostile takeover
hostile reaction
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related Words
Never forget "hostile"
Set a daily goal, reinforce with word cards and games, and track your progress in the Vocab5000 app — learn every C1 level word permanently with our science-based repetition system.
