HOSTILE
Dictionary entry overview: What does hostile mean?
• HOSTILE (noun)
The noun HOSTILE has 1 sense:
1. troops belonging to the enemy's military forces
Familiarity information: HOSTILE used as a noun is very rare.
• HOSTILE (adjective)
The adjective HOSTILE has 7 senses:
1. characterized by enmity or ill will
2. not belonging to your own country's forces or those of an ally
3. very unfriendly
4. impossible to bring into friendly accord
5. very unfavorable to life or growth
6. marked by features that oppose constructive treatment or development
7. unsolicited and resisted by the management of the target company ( used of attempts to buy or take control of a business)
Familiarity information: HOSTILE used as an adjective is common.
Dictionary entry details
• HOSTILE (noun)
Meaning:
Troops belonging to the enemy's military forces
Classified under:
Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects
Context example:
the platoon ran into a pack of hostiles
Hypernyms ("hostile" is a kind of...):
military personnel; soldiery; troops (soldiers collectively)
Domain category:
armed forces; armed services; military; military machine; war machine (the military forces of a nation)
Antonym:
friendly (troops belonging to or allied with your own military forces)
• HOSTILE (adjective)
Meaning:
Characterized by enmity or ill will
Context examples:
a hostile nation / a hostile remark / hostile actions
Similar:
inimical; unfriendly (not friendly)
opponent; opposing (characterized by active hostility)
ill (indicating hostility or enmity)
head-on (characterized by direct opposition)
dirty (expressing or revealing hostility or dislike)
bitter (proceeding from or exhibiting great hostility or animosity)
at loggerheads (in a dispute or confrontation)
antagonistic; antipathetic; antipathetical (characterized by antagonism or antipathy)
aggressive; belligerent (characteristic of an enemy or one eager to fight)
Also:
violent (acting with or marked by or resulting from great force or energy or emotional intensity)
unpeaceful (not peaceful)
offensive (for the purpose of attack rather than defense)
hateful (evoking or deserving hatred)
aggressive (having or showing determination and energetic pursuit of your ends)
unfriendly (not disposed to friendship or friendliness)
Antonym:
amicable (characterized by friendship and good will)
Meaning:
Not belonging to your own country's forces or those of an ally
Context example:
hostile naval and air forces
Antonym:
friendly (of or belonging to your own country's forces or those of an ally)
Meaning:
Very unfriendly
Context example:
a hostile attitude
Similar:
unfriendly (not disposed to friendship or friendliness)
Meaning:
Impossible to bring into friendly accord
Context example:
hostile factions
Similar:
irreconcilable; unreconcilable (impossible to reconcile)
Meaning:
Very unfavorable to life or growth
Synonyms:
uncongenial; unfriendly; hostile
Context examples:
a hostile climate / an uncongenial atmosphere / an uncongenial soil / the unfriendly environment at high altitudes
Similar:
inhospitable (unfavorable to life or growth)
Meaning:
Marked by features that oppose constructive treatment or development
Context example:
not able to accomplish much in such a hostile environment
Similar:
unfavorable; unfavourable (not encouraging or approving or pleasing)
Meaning:
Unsolicited and resisted by the management of the target company ( used of attempts to buy or take control of a business)
Context examples:
hostile takeover / hostile tender offer / hostile bid
Similar:
aggressive (having or showing determination and energetic pursuit of your ends)
Domain category:
business; business enterprise; commercial enterprise (the activity of providing goods and services involving financial and commercial and industrial aspects)
