hostiles

noun

plural of hostile
as in enemies
one that is hostile toward another reports of hostiles in the area kept the settlers on edge

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hostiles Reacher counts 13 hostiles in his surveillance of this makeshift WMD lab. — Chris Klimek, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hostiles
  1. enemies
  2. opponents
  3. foes
Noun
  • Federal law prohibits armed federal agents from conducting activities in and around polling places unless force is necessary to repel armed enemies of the United States.
    — Ana Goñi-Lessan, Sun Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Cue the longstanding rancor … Motorists and cyclists seem to be natural enemies.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of enemies
Noun
  • The question is going to voters because opponents gathered petition signatures forcing a referendum.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The Cougars had started the season 1-5 and had one of the nation’s worst-performing offenses, being shut out in 13 of their 20 quarters against FBS opponents.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of opponents
Noun
  • Assassination attempts against Putin's foes -- routinely denied by the Kremlin -- have been common during his decades in power.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Assassination attempts against Putin's foes — routinely denied by the Kremlin — have been common during his decades in power.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of foes

Browse Nearby Words

hostilely
hostiles
hostilities
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hostiles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hostiles. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of grotesque

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All