hostile
C1Formal, but widely used across registers.
Definition
Meaning
Showing strong opposition or aggression; unfriendly.
1. (Of a situation) Difficult to manage due to opposition or adverse conditions. 2. (Legal) Of an act performed in opposition to a rightful owner. 3. (Military) Relating to an enemy.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The core sense is active, aggressive unfriendliness. It can describe environments, attitudes, actions, or entities. Often implies an active threat or resistance, not just passive dislike.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor. 'Hostile takeover' is a common term in both business lexicons. The adverbial form 'hostilely' is very rare in both.
Connotations
Same core connotations. Possibly perceived as slightly more formal in everyday UK speech.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Be/become/seem hostileBe hostile to/towards sb/sthMeet with/greet with a hostile reception/responseVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Hostile takeover”
- “Hostile environment”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Describes a takeover bid resisted by a company's management.
Academic
Used in law (hostile witness), psychology (hostile attribution bias), history (hostile tribes), and environmental studies (hostile landscape).
Everyday
Describes aggressive attitudes, unwelcoming atmospheres, or difficult conditions.
Technical
In computing, a 'hostile agent' in network security.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The company is seeking to hostilely takeover its rival, though the move has been criticised.
American English
- The firm attempted to hostile the bid, but the shareholders approved it.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The dog was very hostile and barked at us.
- She felt nervous in the hostile city.
- The crowd became hostile when the match was cancelled.
- He is often hostile to new ideas.
- The journalist faced a barrage of hostile questions during the press conference.
- The company operates in a politically hostile environment.
- The witness turned hostile under cross-examination, undermining the prosecution's case.
- The arid, hostile landscape presented formidable challenges for the expedition.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a HOSTILE person as a HOST who has an ILL (unfriendly) attitude.
Conceptual Metaphor
OPPOSITION IS WAR ('hostile questions', 'hostile territory'). A NEGATIVE EMOTION IS AN ADVERSARY ('he felt a wave of hostility').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating Russian 'враждебный' as 'enemy's' (принадлежащий врагу). 'Hostile' means 'showing enmity', not 'belonging to an enemy'.
- Don't confuse with Russian 'гостильный' (related to a hotel) – false friend.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'hostile' to mean simply 'bad' (e.g., 'The weather was hostile' is dramatic/figurative).
- Incorrect preposition: 'hostile against' (correct: hostile to/towards).
Practice
Quiz
In a legal context, what does a 'hostile witness' typically do?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it denotes strong opposition or aggression. Weaker alternatives like 'unfriendly' or 'cold' are more appropriate for mild situations.
Absolutely. Phrases like 'hostile environment' or 'hostile terrain' are common, describing places that are difficult or dangerous to exist in.
'Aggressive' emphasizes forceful, attacking behaviour. 'Hostile' emphasizes deep-seated opposition and ill will. An action can be aggressive without being hostile (e.g., aggressive sales tactics), and a feeling can be hostile without an aggressive act (e.g., a hostile silence).
Use 'hostile to' or 'hostile towards' (people, ideas). 'Hostile toward' is more common in US English. 'Hostile against' is incorrect.
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