hostilities
Acts of war
Hostilities are acts of warfare or armed conflict between opposing forces.
The word typically appears in formal or diplomatic contexts: Hostilities broke out along the border, a cessation of hostilities.
Unlike the singular hostility, which describes unfriendly feelings, hostilities almost always refers to actual fighting rather than mere antagonism.
Violent disagreement or collision
- confrontationDirect hostile encounter
- fightingEngaging in physical conflict
- skirmishBrief, limited combat
- struggleLabored effort against resistance
warfare · engagement · combat · battle · fray · melee · encounter · onslaught
Combat engagement area
- invasionForcible entry into territory
- troopsMilitary personnel collectively
- artilleryLarge-caliber battlefield weapons
- siegeEncirclement forcing surrender
trenches · frontline · infantry · campaign · casualties · military · ceasefire · armistice
Persistent bitter displeasure
- bitternessSharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
- antipathyIngrained, intense aversion
- enmityBitter, lasting ill will
- hatredIntense hostile aversion
ill-will · rancor · acrimony · malice · spite · antagonism · animus · aversion
Lack of agreement
- disputeVerbal clash over differences
- frictionResistance between touching surfaces
- rivalryOngoing contest between opponents
- contentionAssertion or rivalry
turmoil · unrest · feud · dissension · quarrel · sectarian violence · civil strife · ethnic tensions
Unresolved confrontation between opponents
- brinkmanshipPushing conflicts to disaster's threshold
- cold warHostility without open fighting
- arms raceEscalating weapons accumulation between nations
- saber-rattlingThreatening show of military might
military buildup · border tensions · frozen conflict · proxy conflict · détente · rapprochement · de-escalation · distrust
clash
Violent disagreement or collision
- confrontationDirect hostile encounter
- fightingEngaging in physical conflict
- skirmishBrief, limited combat
struggle · warfare · engagement · combat · battle · fray · melee · encounter · onslaught · assault
battlefield
Combat engagement area
- invasionForcible entry into territory
- troopsMilitary personnel collectively
- artilleryLarge-caliber battlefield weapons
siege · trenches · frontline · infantry · campaign · casualties · military · ceasefire · armistice · declaration of war
resentment
Persistent bitter displeasure
- bitternessSharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
- antipathyIngrained, intense aversion
- enmityBitter, lasting ill will
hatred · ill-will · rancor · acrimony · malice · spite · antagonism · animus · aversion · grudge
discord
Lack of agreement
- disputeVerbal clash over differences
- frictionResistance between touching surfaces
- rivalryOngoing contest between opponents
contention · turmoil · unrest · feud · dissension · quarrel · sectarian violence · civil strife · ethnic tensions · power struggle
standoff
Unresolved confrontation between opponents
- brinkmanshipPushing conflicts to disaster's threshold
- cold warHostility without open fighting
- arms raceEscalating weapons accumulation between nations
saber-rattling · military buildup · border tensions · frozen conflict · proxy conflict · détente · rapprochement · de-escalation · distrust · posturing
- conflictclash, fight, war, battle, dispute
- warfarebattle, combat, attack, war, armed conflict
- wartimerationing, war economy, war bonds, war effort, evacuations
- hostilityanimosity, antagonism, belligerence, malice, enmity
- combatbattle, fight, combat, unarmed combat, grappling
- carnagebloodshed, bloodbath, massacre, slaughter, butchery
hostilitiesalliance
Formal union of parties
treaty · peace talks · peace agreement · peace treaty · accords
hostilitiesamity
Peaceful mutual regard
friendships · goodwill · friendliness · cordiality · fellowship
- suspension of hostilitiesAgreed halt to combat