Cool MateHostility vs Spite
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Hostility
Top 5,000 (fairly common)C1noun
Spite
Top 5,000 (fairly common)B2noun
| Hostility | Spite | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/hɒˈstɪləti/"]/🇺🇸 /["/hɑːˈstɪləti/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/spaɪt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/spaɪt/"]/ |
| Meaning | Angry or unfriendly behavior | A feeling of wanting to hurt someone because you are angry. |
| Example | The diplomatic talks broke down due to growing hostility between the two countries. | She refused to help him out of spite. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | B2 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | 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 | pure, sheer, personal, be full of, feel, vent, out of spite, with spite, spite towards/toward |
| Antonyms | friendliness, kindness, amiability | kindness, benevolence, forgiveness |
| Common mistakes | 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'. | Confused with 'spiteful' as a noun., Using 'in spite' incorrectly in phrases., Overusing it in positive contexts. |
| Usage notes | 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. | Use 'spite' when someone does something to intentionally hurt or annoy another person. It is often used in negative contexts, such as spiteful behavior, and is not typically used in formal writing. |
Frequently asked questions: Hostility vs Spite
What's the difference between Hostility and Spite?
Hostility: Angry or unfriendly behavior Spite: A feeling of wanting to hurt someone because you are angry.
Are Hostility and Spite the same CEFR level?
Hostility: C1, Spite: B2 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Hostility and Spite interchangeably?
Not always. Hostility and Spite 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.