hostility — English Dictionary

Noun

1. The state of being hostile.

   Usage

   • Uncountable

   Examples

   My resentment and anger towards you caused hostility and a division between us.

   There is no hostilitie so excellent, as that which is absolutely Christian.

   More examples (2)

   But with Goodison Park openly directing its full hostility towards Atkinson, Liverpool went ahead when Carroll turned in his first Premier League goal of the season after 70 minutes.

   The polarization of wealth and the polarization of attitudes to diversity are not unrelated. A key reason for popular hostility to immigrants is that to many people, particularly within working-class communities, immigration has become a symbol of unacceptable change.

2. A hostile action, especially a military action. See hostilities for specific plural definition.

   Usage

   • Countable

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   As the revivals died down in the 1740s, the revivalist camp made concessions to their opponents, admonished prorevivalists who continued with the hostilities, and generally sought to heal divisions.

Noun

1. a hostile (very unfriendly) disposition

   Synonyms

   ill will

   Broader terms

   unfriendliness

   Examples

   he could not conceal his hostility

2. a state of deep-seated ill-will

   Synonyms

   enmityantagonism

   Broader terms

   state

3. the feeling of a hostile person

   Synonyms

   enmityill will

   Broader terms

   hatehatred

   Examples

   he could no longer contain his hostility

4. violent action that is hostile and usually unprovoked

   Synonyms

   aggression

   Broader terms

   action