Cool MateHatred vs Hostility
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Hatred
Top 2,000 (common)C1noun
Hostility
Top 5,000 (fairly common)C1noun
Most common: Hatred
| Hatred | Hostility | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈheɪtrɪd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈheɪtrɪd/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/hɒˈstɪləti/"]/🇺🇸 /["/hɑːˈstɪləti/"]/ |
| Meaning | A strong dislike or anger towards someone or something. | Angry or unfriendly behavior |
| Example | The centuries-old hatred between the two communities has made reconciliation difficult. | The diplomatic talks broke down due to growing hostility between the two countries. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | C1 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | bitter, deep, intense, be filled with, be full of, feel, flare, in hatred, with hatred, hatred against, a feeling of hatred | bitter, considerable, deep, feel, sense, express, hostility between, hostility against, hostility to, bitter, considerable, deep, feel, sense, express, hostility between, hostility against, hostility to, major, active, cease, end, resume, begin, break out, commence, hostility against, hostility between, the cessation of hostilities, an outbreak of hostilities |
| Antonyms | love, admiration, affection | friendliness, kindness, amiability |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'hate' as a noun and verb., Using it in light contexts, like joking among friends., Not understanding it expresses a very strong emotion. | Confused with 'hospitality', which means being welcoming and friendly., Used incorrectly as a verb; 'hostility' is a noun., Mispronounced as 'hos-ti-lity' instead of 'hos-til-i-ty'. |
| Usage notes | Used in serious discussions about emotions, but can be intense. Avoid using in casual conversation as it may sound overly dramatic. | Use 'hostility' to describe negative feelings or actions towards someone or something. Appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, but avoid it in casual conversations. |
Frequently asked questions: Hatred vs Hostility
What's the difference between Hatred and Hostility?
Hatred: A strong dislike or anger towards someone or something. Hostility: Angry or unfriendly behavior
Which is more common: Hatred and Hostility?
Hatred is the most common in everyday English.
Are Hatred and Hostility the same CEFR level?
Hatred: C1, Hostility: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Hatred and Hostility?
Hatred: noun, Hostility: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Hatred: The centuries-old hatred between the two communities has made reconciliation difficult. Hostility: The diplomatic talks broke down due to growing hostility between the two countries.
Can I use Hatred and Hostility interchangeably?
Not always. Hatred and Hostility are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.