# hostile

Pronunciation: US say "HOS-tuhl" /ˈhɑstəl/; UK say "HOS-tyl" /ˈhɒstaɪl/

## Adjective

1. Unfriendly in the manner of an enemy; showing ill will, malevolence, or a desire to thwart and injure.
   - Simple: Not friendly. Acting like an enemy and wanting to hurt or stop someone.
   - _The senator faced hostile questions from reporters at the press conference._
   - _Relations between the two countries remained hostile for decades after the war._
2. Aggressive and antagonistic, marked by a readiness to attack or confront.
   - Simple: Angry and ready to fight, attack, or argue with someone.
   - _The crowd turned hostile, throwing bottles and pushing toward the stage._
   - _The witness grew hostile under cross-examination, snapping at the prosecutor._
3. Relating to an attempt to take over a company against the wishes of its management or board.
   - Simple: Trying to buy or take control of a company when its leaders do not agree.
   - _The board rejected the hostile bid, calling the offer far too low._
   - _After the hostile takeover, the new owners replaced the entire executive team._
5. Unwilling to do or accept something.
   - Simple: Not willing to do something or to accept an idea or plan.
   - _The board remained hostile to any plan that would raise costs._
   - _Voters proved hostile to the proposed tax increase._

## Noun

4. An enemy.
   - Simple: An enemy: someone fighting against you or your side.
   - _The pilot reported a hostile on radar, closing fast from the north._
   - _Ground teams confirmed that the approaching vehicles belonged to hostiles, not refugees._

## Origin

Borrowed from Middle French hostile, from Latin hostīlis, which comes from hostis meaning "enemy." It displaced the Old English word fēondlīċ.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/hostile (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).