hostility
/hɒˈstɪlɪti
/noun (plural hostilities) [mass noun]
1Hostile behaviour; unfriendliness or opposition: their hostility to all outsiders...
- Such was the anger and hostility among the callers that one official refused to take any more calls.
- In fact they will probably go along with it, not wanting to attract further hostility from the military.
- Any identity built on hostility to others can change the object of its hostility as easily as a man changes his coat.
Synonyms
antagonism, unfriendliness, bitterness, malevolence, malice, unkindness, spite, spitefulness, rancour, rancorousness, venom, wrath, anger, hatred;
aggression, aggressiveness, belligerence, bellicosity, pugnaciousness, militancy, truculence, warlikeness
opposition, antagonism, animosity, antipathy, animus, ill will, ill feeling, bad feeling, resentment, aversion, enmity, inimicalness
1.1 (hostilities) Acts of warfare: he called for an immediate cessation of hostilities...
- Plans were made for a second campaign but renewed hostilities in Gaul delayed action until the following year.
- VE Day passed by with little impact on those still engaged in hostilities in the Far East.
- Many of those people know perfectly well that they will be engaged in hostilities.
Synonyms
fighting, conflict, armed conflict, combat, warfare, war, bloodshed, violence, action, military action, battles, strife
Origin
Late Middle English: from French hostilité or late Latin hostilitas, from Latin hostilis (see hostile).