Hostile and Rival

Hostile

Hostile noun - One that is hostile toward another.
Usage example: reports of hostiles in the area kept the settlers on edge

Rival and hostile are semantically related. In some cases you can use "Rival" instead the word "Hostile" as an adjective or a noun.

Nearby Word: hostility

Rival

Rival noun - One that is equal to another in status, achievement, or value.

Hostile and rival are semantically related. Sometimes you can use "Hostile" instead the word "Rival" as an adjective or a noun.

Nearby Words: rivalry, rivaled, rivaling, rivalled

Both words in one sentence

  • As the agency responsible for signals intelligence (SIGINT), i.e., intercepting and decrypting the communications of rival and hostile groups, they would not engage in CIA-style fieldwork.
  • Idol Singer His biggest rival is one himself, with the whole series having a hostile outlook on the idol phenomenon.
    Source: Idol Singer
  • Tabletop Game / Space 1889 They can get annoyed then a rival colonial power sells advanced weapons to hostile natives, though.
Cite this Source
Rival and Hostile. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 15, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/hostile/rival
Hostile & Rival. N.p., 2016. Web. 15 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/hostile/rival>.
Rival or Hostile. 2016. Accessed August 15, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/hostile/rival.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "hostile" and "rival" have occurred on timeline