a hostile population of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a hostile population of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a group of people who are unfriendly or antagonistic towards a particular entity or situation. Example: "The military faced a hostile population of civilians who were resistant to their presence in the region."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

A hostile population of American-born Muslims?

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

And Sagee's encounter with the children, like Kelman's experience shooting at the family on the terrace, reveals a hostile population that has grown contemptuous of the Israelis' superior firepower.

The New York Times - Magazine

I watch with anguish the continued violence and chaos in Iraq and the murder and maiming of our troops, who face the impossible task of pacifying a hostile population.

The New York Times

This experiment examined the role of glucose in a hostile population.

Brain Informatics

But no matter what kind of power can be rolled into Baghdad, if it faces a hostile population, as our troops did in Mogadishu, the scene could turn into a nightmare.

The New York Times

The move appeared at least in part to be defensive — an effort to protect themselves against both a hostile population and a hostile world.

The New York Times

In a test of this model, Williamson and Harrison [21] investigated the left and right prefrontal regions in a hostile population when evaluating cardiovascular reactivity to lateralized prefrontal stressors.

Brain Informatics

Champotón was by now the last Spanish outpost in Yucatán, isolated among a hostile population.

Wikipedia

To prevent a repeat, the Taliban decided to eliminate the hostile population of so vital a landscape -- and the way they did it was to remove any reason for them to live there.

The New York Times

And in January 1862 he pressed Gen. Don Carlos Buell to turn his attention from the hostile population of Nashville to points east, for "our friends in East Tennessee are being hanged and driven to despair".

The New York Times

Although the Spanish road from Spain's holdings on the Mediterranean shores led to its territories in what is today Belgium, it was a long, arduous march, complicated by the provisioning of troops and the potentially hostile populations of the territories through which it passed.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always back up the assertion of hostility with concrete examples or evidence. Avoid generalizations and focus on specific behaviors or attitudes that demonstrate the antagonism.

Common error

Avoid using "a hostile population of" when describing groups with legitimate grievances or understandable concerns. Overusing this phrase can create a biased and unsympathetic portrayal.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a hostile population of" functions as a descriptive noun phrase, modifying a noun (often representing a geographic region, political entity, or social group) to specify that its inhabitants exhibit antagonism or opposition. It suggests a state of active or passive resistance.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a hostile population of" describes a group exhibiting antagonism or opposition. While grammatically sound, Ludwig's analysis indicates that this phrase is used relatively infrequently. Its application typically surfaces in news reports, scientific studies, and wiki entries, demanding careful consideration due to its negative connotation. When you use this phrase, you should ensure factual accuracy and awareness of potential bias. Alternatives include "an antagonistic community" or "a rebellious citizenry", which may better fit the specific context while avoiding overly inflammatory language. While it can be correct, the phrase must be carefully considered.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an antagonistic community

Replaces "hostile" with "antagonistic" and "population" with "community", focusing on the adversarial nature of the group.

an inimical populace

Replaces "hostile" with a more formal synonym, "inimical", and "population" with "populace", creating a more literary tone.

a recalcitrant population

Replaces "hostile" with "recalcitrant", indicating stubborn opposition to authority or control.

a defiant populace

Replaces "hostile" with "defiant", emphasizing the group's open challenge to authority.

a rebellious citizenry

Substitutes "hostile" with "rebellious" and "population" with "citizenry", suggesting active resistance rather than mere animosity.

a bellicose people

Replaces "hostile" with "bellicose" suggesting a propensity towards aggression and warfare.

a resistant group of people

Uses simpler language, replacing "hostile population" with a more descriptive phrase.

an unsympathetic demographic

Replaces "hostile" with "unsympathetic", focusing on the lack of compassion or support from the group.

an alienated segment of society

Shifts the focus to the reasons behind the hostility, suggesting a sense of estrangement.

an uncooperative group of inhabitants

Offers a more neutral and descriptive alternative, avoiding strong negative connotations.

FAQs

How can I use "a hostile population of" in a sentence?

This phrase describes a group of people demonstrating antagonism. For example: "The occupying forces faced "a hostile population of" civilians resistant to their presence".

What are some alternatives to "a hostile population of"?

Depending on the specific context, consider alternatives like "an antagonistic community", "a rebellious citizenry", or "an unfriendly group of people".

What makes a population "hostile"?

Hostility can manifest through various actions, including resistance, protest, violence, or non-cooperation. It implies an active opposition to an authority or situation.

Is it always appropriate to describe a group as "a hostile population of"?

No, this phrase carries strong negative connotations and should be used cautiously. Consider whether the label accurately reflects the group's behavior and motivations, and whether less inflammatory language would be more appropriate.