hostile

[hos-tl or, esp. British, -tahyl] /ˈhɒs tl or, esp. British, -taɪl/
adjective
1.
of, pertaining to, or characteristic of an enemy:
a hostile nation.
2.
opposed in feeling, action, or character; antagonistic:
hostile criticism.
3.
characterized by antagonism.
4.
not friendly, warm, or generous; not hospitable.
noun
5.
a person or thing that is antagonistic or unfriendly.
6.
Military. an enemy soldier, plane, ship, etc.
Origin
1585-95; < Latin hostīlis, equivalent to hostis enemy (see host2) + -īlis -ile
Related forms
hostilely, adverb
interhostile, adjective
nonhostile, adjective
nonhostilely, adverb
overhostile, adjective
overhostilely, adverb
prehostile, adjective
semihostile, adjective
semihostilely, adverb
unhostile, adjective
unhostilely, adverb
Can be confused
hostel, hostile (see synonym study at the current entry)
Synonyms
1. warlike, aggressive. 2. adverse, averse, contrary. Hostile, inimical indicate that which characterizes an enemy or something injurious to one's interests. Hostile applies to the spirit, attitude, or action of an enemy: They showed a hostile and menacing attitude. Inimical applies to an antagonistic or injurious tendency or influence: Their remarks were inimical to his reputation.
Antonyms
1, 2. friendly. 3. sympathetic.
Examples from the web for hostile
  • Yet the hostile takeover under way here is not strictly mob related.
  • Two of my dinner talks started and ended in an hostile manner.
  • On the whole they have moved independently along separate lines, and have at times seemed indeed almost hostile to each other.
  • The effort would be unlikely to placate his most hostile critics.
  • So far, all your comments have been gratuitously critical if not downright hostile toward males.
  • For a Western journalist, the conditions were hostile and forbidding.
  • The distance was about three hundred and thirty miles through a hostile country.
  • Both promised to change the tone in Washington from hostile to conciliatory.
  • I'm not being hostile or defensive.
  • He behaved with hostile courtesy, as though he were afraid of coming closer to people he did not respect.
British Dictionary definitions for hostile

hostile

/ˈhɒstaɪl/
adjective
1.
antagonistic; opposed
2.
of or relating to an enemy
3.
unfriendly
noun
4.
a hostile person; enemy
Derived Forms
hostilely, adverb
Word Origin
C16: from Latin hostīlis, from hostis enemy
Word Origin and History for hostile
adj.

late 15c., from Middle French hostile "of or belonging to an enemy" or directly from Latin hostilis "of an enemy," from hostis "enemy" (see guest). The noun meaning "hostile person" is recorded from 1838, American English, a word from the Indian wars.