hostiles
Foes in combat
Hostiles is a term for enemy combatants or unfriendly forces, especially in military contexts: The patrol encountered hostiles near the border.
In American Western history, it referred specifically to Native Americans who resisted white settlement—a usage now recognized as reflecting the settler perspective.
The word treats hostility as an identity rather than a stance.
Those who oppose you
- foesHostile opponents
- antagonistsOpponents in conflict
- enemiesHostile opposing parties
- opponentsThose who compete against
aggressors · invaders · raiders · insurgents · rebels · guerrillas · militants · assailants
Commitment to wed or attend
- skirmishBrief, limited combat
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
- confrontationDirect hostile encounter
- combatArmed hostile engagement
fighting · warfare · battle · offensive · assault · incursion · raid · ambush
Hostile and confrontational
- belligerentHostile and eager to clash
- antagonisticActively opposed or hostile
- combativeInclined toward conflict
- unfriendlyNot welcoming or warm
inimical · bellicose · pugnacious · militant · hawkish · confrontational · quarrelsome · threatening
Area controlled by opponents
- no-man's-landUnclaimed disputed territory
- frontierEdge of settlement
- borderlandsTerritory near a boundary
- occupied territoryLand under foreign military control
danger zone · war zone · badlands · outlands · wilderness · uncharted territory
adversaries
Those who oppose you
- foesHostile opponents
- antagonistsOpponents in conflict
- enemiesHostile opposing parties
opponents · aggressors · invaders · raiders · insurgents · rebels · guerrillas · militants · assailants · belligerents
engagement
Commitment to wed or attend
- skirmishBrief, limited combat
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
- confrontationDirect hostile encounter
combat · fighting · warfare · battle · offensive · assault · incursion · raid · ambush · siege
aggressive
Hostile and confrontational
- belligerentHostile and eager to clash
- antagonisticActively opposed or hostile
- combativeInclined toward conflict
unfriendly · inimical · bellicose · pugnacious · militant · hawkish · confrontational · quarrelsome · threatening · menacing
enemy territory
Area controlled by opponents
- no-man's-landUnclaimed disputed territory
- frontierEdge of settlement
- borderlandsTerritory near a boundary
occupied territory · danger zone · war zone · badlands · outlands · wilderness · uncharted territory
hostilesfriendlies
Forces on same side
allies · allied forces · coalition forces · non-combatants · civilians
hostilesfriends
Voluntary close relations
allies · friendlies · supporters · protectors · well-wishers
hostilesfriends
Voluntary close relations
allies · welcomers · peacemakers · reconcilers · harmonizers
- hostile environmentSurroundings posing active threats
- suspension of hostilitiesAgreed halt to combat
- hostile workplaceAbusive professional setting
- hostile takeoverUnwanted corporate buyout attempt
- hostile territoryArea controlled by adversaries
- hostile work environmentLegally actionable workplace harassment