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hostile - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'hostile' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Hostile [ a.]
- Belonging or appropriate to an enemy; showing the disposition of an enemy; showing ill will and malevolence, or a desire to thwart and injure; occupied by an enemy or enemies; inimical; unfriendly; as, a hostile force; hostile intentions; a hostile country; hostile to a sudden change.
2 . Hostile [ n.]
- An enemy; esp., an American Indian in arms against the whites; -- commonly in the plural.

Meaning of 'hostile' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . hostile [ n]
Meaning (1):
- troops belonging to the enemy's military forces
Example in sentence:
  • the platoon ran into a pack of hostiles
2 . hostile [ a]
Meaning (2):
- characterized by enmity or ill will
Example in sentence:
  • a hostile nation;
  • a hostile remark;
  • hostile actions
Meaning (3):
- not belonging to your own country's forces or those of an ally
Example in sentence:
  • hostile naval and air forces
4 . hostile [ s]
Meaning (4):
- very unfavorable to life or growth
Example in sentence:
  • a hostile climate;
  • an uncongenial atmosphere;
  • an uncongenial soil;
  • the unfriendly environment at high altitudes
Meaning (5):
- unsolicited and resisted by the management of the target company (used of attempts to buy or take control of a business)
Example in sentence:
  • hostile bid;
  • hostile takeover;
  • hostile tender offer
Meaning (6):
- impossible to bring into friendly accord
Example in sentence:
  • hostile factions

Nearby Words:

hosanna hosannas hose hosen hosier hosiery hospice hospitable hospitableness hospitably

See 'hostile' also in:

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