Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
Definition: Inhospitable |
InhospitableAdjective1. Unfavorable to life or growth; "the barren inhospitable dessert"; "inhospitable mountain areas". 2. Not hospitable; "they are extremely inhospitable these days"; "her greeting was cold and inhospitable". Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. |
Date "inhospitable" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1321. (references) |
Etymology: Inhospitable \In*hos"pi*ta*ble\, adjective. [Prefix in- not hospitable: compare to Latin inhospitalis.]. (references) |
| Antonym: hospitable (adj). (additional references) |
| Context | Synonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus). |
Seclusion Exclusion | Unsociable; unsocial, dissocial; inhospitable, cynical, inconversable, unclubbable, sauvage, troglodytic. |
| Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus. | |
Crosswords: Inhospitable |
| English words defined with "inhospitable": genus Ephedra ♦ Hostless ♦ inhospitableness, inhospitably ♦ tamed ♦ Unhospitable. (references) |
| Specialty definitions using "inhospitable": regalia ♦ trial. (references) |
| Etymologies containing "inhospitable": Hostless. (references) |
| Subject | Topic | Quote |
Economic History | Japan | However, it has long been considered an inhospitable forum for international commercial arbitration. (references) |
Cote d'Ivoire | Early contacts were limited to a few missionaries because of the inhospitable coastline and settlers' fear of the inhabitants. (references) | |
Nigeria | U.S. businesses should be aware that many genuine opportunities exist in Nigeria, even if the atmosphere does still seem inhospitable and certain extra screening steps must be taken. (references) | |
Lexicography | Devil's Dictionary | TRIAL, n. A formal inquiry designed to prove and put upon record the blameless characters of judges, advocates and jurors. In order to effect this purpose it is necessary to supply a contrast in the person of one who is called the defendant, the prisoner, or the accused. If the contrast is made sufficiently clear this person is made to undergo such an affliction as will give the virtuous gentlemen a comfortable sense of their immunity, added to that of their worth. In our day the accused is usually a human being, or a socialist, but in mediaeval times, animals, fishes, reptiles and insects were brought to trial. A beast that had taken human life, or practiced sorcery, was duly arrested, tried and, if condemned, put to death by the public executioner. Insects ravaging grain fields, orchards or vineyards were cited to appeal by counsel before a civil tribunal, and after testimony, argument and condemnation, if they continued in contumaciam the matter was taken to a high ecclesiastical court, where they were solemnly excommunicated and anathematized. In a street of Toledo, some pigs that had wickedly run between the viceroy's legs, upsetting him, were arrested on a warrant, tried and punished. In Naples and ass was condemned to be burned at the stake, but the sentence appears not to have been executed. D'Addosio relates from the court records many trials of pigs, bulls, horses, cocks, dogs, goats, etc., greatly, it is believed, to the betterment of their conduct and morals. In 1451 a suit was brought against the leeches infesting some ponds about Berne, and the Bishop of Lausanne, instructed by the faculty of Heidelberg University, directed that some of "the aquatic worms" be brought before the local magistracy. This was done and the leeches, both present and absent, were ordered to leave the places that they had infested within three days on pain of incurring "the malediction of God." In the voluminous records of this cause celebre nothing is found to show whether the offenders braved the punishment, or departed forthwith out of that inhospitable jurisdiction. |
Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits. | ||
| Speaker | Term | Phrase(s) |
Jimmy Carter | 1977-1981 | We do not seek to intimidate, but it is clear that a world which others can dominate with impunity would be inhospitable to decency and a threat to the well-being of all people. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| "Inhospitable" is generally used as an adjective (general or positive) -- approximately 100.00% of the time. "Inhospitable" is used about 114 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted) |
| Parts of Speech | Percent | Usage per 100 Million Words | Rank in English |
| Adjective (general or positive) | 100% | 114 | 30,294 |
Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.
| The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com. |
| Expression | Frequency per Day |
inhospitable | 4 |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| Language | Translations for "inhospitable"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses. | |
Albanian | i shkretë (blessed, desert, deserted, desolate, devoid of inhabitants, lifeless, lonely, lonesome, poor, waste, wild), jomirëprirës. (various references) | |
Arabic | ماحل لاضيافي, غير مضياف. (various references) | |
Bulgarian | негостоприемен, мрачен (black, bleak, cheerless, comfortless, darksome, dejected, depressing, dim, dingy, dismal, drab, drear, dumpish, dusky, forbidding, gaunt, gloomy, glum, grave, grey, grim, grisly, heavy, joyless, low-browed, lowering, melancholy, mirk, morbid, morose, murk, murky, obscure, sad, saturnine, somber, sombre, sullen, sunless, tenebrous, thick, tristful), пуст (bleak, desert, deserted, desolate, drear, empty, harsh, inane, infernal, uncouth, uninhabited, vacant, vain, waste, wild, yeasty). (various references) | |
Chinese | 不好客. (various references) | |
Czech | nepohostinný (unfriendly), nehostinný (stark). (various references) | |
Farsi | مهمان ننواز, نامهربان (Unkind, Unmerciful, Unmercifully), غریب ننواز. (various references) | |
French | inhospitalier. (various references) | |
German | unwirtlich (inhospitably, unfriendly), ungastlich. (various references) | |
Greek | απαγορεύσιμοσ, αφιλόξενοσ, αφιλόξενος. (various references) | |
Hungarian | nem vendégszerető, barátságtalan (austere, chilly, cold, crabby, disagreeable, disgruntled, doggish, gaunt, gruff, ill natured, pouty, rugged, sulky, sullen, surly, unaccommodating, unaffable, unfriendly, unkind). (various references) | |
Italian | inospitale. (various references) | |
Japanese Kanji | 薄遇 (poor or inhospitable reception). (various references) | |
Japanese Katakana | はくぐう (poor or inhospitable reception). (various references) | |
Manx | neuoastagh, neuchuirree, neuaaghtagh, anoltagh. (various references) | |
Norwegian | ugjestfri. (various references) | |
Pig Latin | inhospitableay.(various references) | |
Portuguese | inspito, inospitaleiro. (various references) | |
Romanian | inospitalier, vrãjmaş (enemy, foe, terrible), prost (ass, bad, badly, beef-witted, blinkard, blockhead, blunt, booby, calf, cheap, clumsy, cock eyed, common, dead, dolt, doltish, donkey, dull, dullard, dumb, dunce, dunderhead, flat, fool, foolish, good for nothing, goof, goon, goose, Goosey, gull, harmful, idiot, idiotish, lousy, lubber-head, miserable, nincompoop, ninny, nitwit, nitwitted, noddy, noodle, numskull, numskulled, oaf, oafish, pin head, poor, poorly, silly, simple, simpleton, snipe, soft, soft-headed, sorry, spoony, stupid, thoughtless, unfavorable, unfavourable, wretched, zombie). (various references) | |
Russian | негостеприимный. (various references) | |
Scottish | ùdail. (various references) | |
Serbo-Croatian | negostoljubiv. (various references) | |
Spanish | inhóspito. (various references) | |
Swedish | ogästvänlig (uncongenial). (various references) | |
Thai | ซึ่งไม่ต้อนรับ. (various references) | |
Turkish | soğuk (aloof, angular, apathetic, apathetical, bleak, calm, chill, chilling, chilly, cold, cool, cryo-, distant, freezing, frigid, frostiness, frosty, frozen, icily, inclement, marble, offish, Parky, phlegmatic, phlegmatical, remote, rigorous, saturnine, standoffish, starchy, stiff, stony, uncompanionable, unfriendly, unsympathetic, wintry), misafirperver olmayan, konuk sevmez. (various references) | |
Ukrainian | негостинний, похмурий (adust, bleak, cheerless, dark, darksome, despondent, disconsolate, dismal, drear, dreary, dull, dusky, frowning, gash, gaunt, ghastly, gloomy, glum, grave, gruff, hard-faced, lowering, macabre, mopish, mournful, murk, nightly, obscure, overcast, sable, saturnine, sepulchral, shadowy, stygian, sullen, surly, tenebrous). (various references) | |
Vietnamese | không mến khách không ở được. (various references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references. | ||
| Language | Period | Translations |
| Latin | 500 BCE-Modern | inhospitalis, inhospitus. (various references) |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
Derivations | |
Words beginning with "inhospitable": inhospitableness, inhospitablenesses. (additional references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |
| # of Phoneme Matches | Pronunciation | Word(s) rhyming with "inhospitable" (pronounced i'nhÄ"sputubul or i'nhÄspi"tubul) |
| 6 | -u t u b u l | indomitable, inequitable, inevitable, attributable, charitable, creditable, disreputable, equitable, forfeitable, habitable, heritable, imitable, inheritable, inimitable, irritable, marketable, palatable, profitable, reputable, uninhabitable, unpalatable, unprofitable, veritable. |
| 5 | -t u b u l | indestructible, indisputable, inexhaustible, inflatable, acceptable, accountable, adaptable, adjustable, adoptable, collectible, comfortable, compatible, constable, contemptible, contestable, convertible, copyrightable, countable, debatable, deductible, delectable, detectable, digestible, discountable, eatable, electable, excitable, exportable, forgettable, harvestable, hospitable, immutable, imperceptible, implantable, incompatible, incontrovertible, suggestible, suitable, supportable, susceptible, injectable, inscrutable, insupportable, insurmountable, interruptible, intractable, investable, irrefutable, irresistible, lamentable, nonconvertible, nondeductible, notable, patentable, perceptible, portable, potable, predictable, presentable, preventable, printable, prosecutable, quotable, redoubtable, regrettable, rentable, repeatable, reportable, resettable, respectable, retractable, tractable, transmittable, transportable, treatable, unacceptable, unaccountable, unbeatable, uncollectible, uncomfortable, undetectable, unelectable, unforgettable, unpredictable, unprintable, unsuitable, unsupportable, vegetable. |
| 4 | -u b u l | incurable, indefatigable, indefensible, indefinable, indelible, indescribable, indispensable, indistinguishable, indivisible, inedible, ineffable, ineligible, inescapable, inexcusable, inexorable, inexplicable, infallible, infeasible, inflammable, accessible, abominable, achievable, actionable, addressable, admirable, admissible, adorable, advisable, affable, affordable, agreeable, allowable, amenable, amendable, amiable, amicable, analyzable, answerable, appealable, applicable, appreciable, approachable, approvable, arable, arguable, attainable, audible, available, avoidable, bankable, bearable, believable, billable, biodegradable, breakable, buildable, burnable, callable, cannibal, capable, changeable, chargeable, classifiable, collapsible, Combinable, commendable, communicable, comparable, compensable, comprehensible, conceivable, confirmable, considerable, consumable, controllable, credible, crucible, culpable, curable, defensible, definable, degradable, deliverable, demonstrable, dependable, deplorable, deployable, depreciable, describable, desirable, despicable, detachable, determinable, developable, disagreeable, discernible, discoverable, dishonorable, dispensable, disposable, distinguishable, divisible, doable, drinkable, drivable, durable, edible, eligible, Embraceable, employable, enforceable, enjoyable, enviable, equable, erasable, erodible, estimable, exchangeable, excludable, excusable, execrable, exercisable, expandable, expendable, explainable, extendable, extendible, fallible, fashionable, fathomable, favorable, feasible, fissionable, fixable, flammable, flexible, forcible, foreseeable, forgivable, formidable, fungible, fusible, gullible, hon, honorable, horrible, identifiable, illegible, imaginable, immiscible, immovable, impassable, impeachable, impeccable, impenetrable, impermissible, implacable, implausible, imponderable, impossible, impracticable, impregnable, impressionable, improbable, inaccessible, inadmissible, inadvisable, inalienable, inapplicable, inaudible, incalculable, incapable, incomparable, incomprehensible, incompressible, inconceivable, incorrigible, incredible, soluble, solvable, spendable, submersible, survivable, sustainable, syllable, talkable, tangible, taxable, teachable, tenable, terrible, inflexible, innumerable, inoperable, insatiable, inseparable, insoluble, insufferable, intangible, intelligible, interchangeable, interminable, intolerable, invaluable, invincible, inviolable, invisible, invulnerable, irascible, irreconcilable, irremediable, irreparable, irreplaceable, irrepressible, irresponsible, irreversible, irrevocable, issuable, justifiable, knowledgeable, laudable, laughable, leasable, legible, liable, likable, likeable, livable, lovable, malleable, manageable, mandible, maneuverable, measurable, memorable, microwavable, miscible, miserable, moldable, movable, navigable, negligible, negotiable, noncallable, nondurable, nonrefundable, nonrenewable, nontaxable, nontransferable, noticeable, objectionable, observable, obtainable, operable, ostensible, palpable, parable, passable, payable, peaceable, perishable, permeable, permissible, personable, persuadable, pitiable, plausible, pleasurable, pliable, possible, practicable, preferable, probable, programmable, provable, punishable, questionable, reachable, readable, realizable, reasonable, receivable, rechargeable, recognizable, recordable, recoverable, recyclable, redeemable, reducible, refundable, reliable, remarkable, removable, renewable, repairable, repayable, replaceable, reprehensible, resealable, responsible, returnable, reusable, reversible, revocable, ridable, salable, saleable, salvageable, seasonable, sensible, serviceable, sizable, sizeable, sociable, tolerable, traceable, tradable, tradeable, trainable, transferable, transferrable, tunable, typeable, unaffordable, unalienable, unalterable, unanswerable, unassailable, unattainable, unavailable, unavoidable, unbearable, unbelievable, unbuildable, unconscionable, uncontrollable, undeniable, understandable, undesirable, unemployable, unenforceable, unenviable, unexplainable, unfashionable, unfathomable, unfavorable, unfeasible, unflappable, unforeseeable, unforgivable, ungovernable, unimaginable, unimpeachable, uninsurable, unintelligible, unjustifiable, unknowable, unlivable, unmanageable, unmentionable, unmistakable, unobtainable, unquestionable, unreachable, unreadable, unreasonable, unrecognizable, unreliable, unremarkable, unsalable, unshakable, unsinkable, unsolvable, unspeakable, unstoppable, unsustainable, untenable, unthinkable, untouchable, untraceable, unusable, unverifiable, unwinnable, unworkable, usable, variable, venerable, verifiable, viable, visible, voluble, vulnerable, washable, wearable, winnable, workable. |
| 3 | -b u l | able, amble, assemble, babble, Babel, bauble, bible, bramble, bubble, Bumble, cable, cobble, coble, corbel, crumble, cymbal, dabble, Dibble, disable, disassemble, dissemble, double, Drabble, dribble, enable, enfeeble, ennoble, ensemble, fable, feeble, foible, fumble, gable, gamble, Garble, global, gobble, Gribble, grumble, hardscrabble, herbal, hobble, humble, ignoble, immeasurable, immobile, squabble, Stabile, stable, stubble, stumble, symbol, table, intertribal, jumble, kibble, label, libel, marble, mislabel, mobile, mumble, nibble, nimble, noble, nonverbal, pebble, preamble, psychobabble, quibble, rabble, ramble, reassemble, rebel, redouble, relabel, resemble, Roble, rouble, roundtable, rubble, Ruble, rumble, sable, Scrabble, scramble, scribble, shamble, Sibyl, thimble, timetable, treble, tremble, tribal, trouble, tubal, tumble, turntable, umbel, unable, unscramble, unserviceable, unstable, valuable, verbal, wamble, wobble. |
| 8 | -s p i" t u b u l | hospitable. |
| 6 | -i" t u b u l | transmittable. |
| 5 | -t u b u l | indestructible, indisputable, indomitable, inequitable, inevitable, inexhaustible, inflatable, acceptable, accountable, adaptable, adjustable, adoptable, attributable, charitable, collectible, comfortable, compatible, constable, contemptible, contestable, convertible, copyrightable, countable, creditable, debatable, deductible, delectable, detectable, digestible, discountable, disreputable, eatable, electable, equitable, excitable, exportable, forfeitable, forgettable, habitable, harvestable, heritable, imitable, immutable, imperceptible, implantable, incompatible, incontrovertible, suggestible, suitable, supportable, susceptible, inheritable, inimitable, injectable, inscrutable, insupportable, insurmountable, interruptible, intractable, investable, irrefutable, irresistible, irritable, lamentable, marketable, nonconvertible, nondeductible, notable, palatable, patentable, perceptible, portable, potable, predictable, presentable, preventable, printable, profitable, prosecutable, quotable, redoubtable, regrettable, rentable, repeatable, reportable, reputable, resettable, respectable, retractable, tractable, transportable, treatable, unacceptable, unaccountable, unbeatable, uncollectible, uncomfortable, undetectable, unelectable, unforgettable, uninhabitable, unpalatable, unpredictable, unprintable, unprofitable, unsuitable, unsupportable, vegetable, veritable. |
| 4 | -u b u l | incurable, indefatigable, indefensible, indefinable, indelible, indescribable, indispensable, indistinguishable, indivisible, inedible, ineffable, ineligible, inescapable, inexcusable, inexorable, inexplicable, infallible, infeasible, inflammable, accessible, abominable, achievable, actionable, addressable, admirable, admissible, adorable, advisable, affable, affordable, agreeable, allowable, amenable, amendable, amiable, amicable, analyzable, answerable, appealable, applicable, appreciable, approachable, approvable, arable, arguable, attainable, audible, available, avoidable, bankable, bearable, believable, billable, biodegradable, breakable, buildable, burnable, callable, cannibal, capable, changeable, chargeable, classifiable, collapsible, Combinable, commendable, communicable, comparable, compensable, comprehensible, conceivable, confirmable, considerable, consumable, controllable, credible, crucible, culpable, curable, defensible, definable, degradable, deliverable, demonstrable, dependable, deplorable, deployable, depreciable, describable, desirable, despicable, detachable, determinable, developable, disagreeable, discernible, discoverable, dishonorable, dispensable, disposable, distinguishable, divisible, doable, drinkable, drivable, durable, edible, eligible, Embraceable, employable, enforceable, enjoyable, enviable, equable, erasable, erodible, estimable, exchangeable, excludable, excusable, execrable, exercisable, expandable, expendable, explainable, extendable, extendible, fallible, fashionable, fathomable, favorable, feasible, fissionable, fixable, flammable, flexible, forcible, foreseeable, forgivable, formidable, fungible, fusible, gullible, hon, honorable, horrible, identifiable, illegible, imaginable, immiscible, immovable, impassable, impeachable, impeccable, impenetrable, impermissible, implacable, implausible, imponderable, impossible, impracticable, impregnable, impressionable, improbable, inaccessible, inadmissible, inadvisable, inalienable, inapplicable, inaudible, incalculable, incapable, incomparable, incomprehensible, incompressible, inconceivable, incorrigible, incredible, soluble, solvable, spendable, submersible, survivable, sustainable, syllable, talkable, tangible, taxable, teachable, tenable, terrible, inflexible, innumerable, inoperable, insatiable, inseparable, insoluble, insufferable, intangible, intelligible, interchangeable, interminable, intolerable, invaluable, invincible, inviolable, invisible, invulnerable, irascible, irreconcilable, irremediable, irreparable, irreplaceable, irrepressible, irresponsible, irreversible, irrevocable, issuable, justifiable, knowledgeable, laudable, laughable, leasable, legible, liable, likable, likeable, livable, lovable, malleable, manageable, mandible, maneuverable, measurable, memorable, microwavable, miscible, miserable, moldable, movable, navigable, negligible, negotiable, noncallable, nondurable, nonrefundable, nonrenewable, nontaxable, nontransferable, noticeable, objectionable, observable, obtainable, operable, ostensible, palpable, parable, passable, payable, peaceable, perishable, permeable, permissible, personable, persuadable, pitiable, plausible, pleasurable, pliable, possible, practicable, preferable, probable, programmable, provable, punishable, questionable, reachable, readable, realizable, reasonable, receivable, rechargeable, recognizable, recordable, recoverable, recyclable, redeemable, reducible, refundable, reliable, remarkable, removable, renewable, repairable, repayable, replaceable, reprehensible, resealable, responsible, returnable, reusable, reversible, revocable, ridable, salable, saleable, salvageable, seasonable, sensible, serviceable, sizable, sizeable, sociable, tolerable, traceable, tradable, tradeable, trainable, transferable, transferrable, tunable, typeable, unaffordable, unalienable, unalterable, unanswerable, unassailable, unattainable, unavailable, unavoidable, unbearable, unbelievable, unbuildable, unconscionable, uncontrollable, undeniable, understandable, undesirable, unemployable, unenforceable, unenviable, unexplainable, unfashionable, unfathomable, unfavorable, unfeasible, unflappable, unforeseeable, unforgivable, ungovernable, unimaginable, unimpeachable, uninsurable, unintelligible, unjustifiable, unknowable, unlivable, unmanageable, unmentionable, unmistakable, unobtainable, unquestionable, unreachable, unreadable, unreasonable, unrecognizable, unreliable, unremarkable, unsalable, unshakable, unsinkable, unsolvable, unspeakable, unstoppable, unsustainable, untenable, unthinkable, untouchable, untraceable, unusable, unverifiable, unwinnable, unworkable, usable, variable, venerable, verifiable, viable, visible, voluble, vulnerable, washable, wearable, winnable, workable. |
| 3 | -b u l | able, amble, assemble, babble, Babel, bauble, bible, bramble, bubble, Bumble, cable, cobble, coble, corbel, crumble, cymbal, dabble, Dibble, disable, disassemble, dissemble, double, Drabble, dribble, enable, enfeeble, ennoble, ensemble, fable, feeble, foible, fumble, gable, gamble, Garble, global, gobble, Gribble, grumble, hardscrabble, herbal, hobble, humble, ignoble, immeasurable, immobile, squabble, Stabile, stable, stubble, stumble, symbol, table, intertribal, jumble, kibble, label, libel, marble, mislabel, mobile, mumble, nibble, nimble, noble, nonverbal, pebble, preamble, psychobabble, quibble, rabble, ramble, reassemble, rebel, redouble, relabel, resemble, Roble, rouble, roundtable, rubble, Ruble, rumble, sable, Scrabble, scramble, scribble, shamble, Sibyl, thimble, timetable, treble, tremble, tribal, trouble, tubal, tumble, turntable, umbel, unable, unscramble, unserviceable, unstable, valuable, verbal, wamble, wobble. |
Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits. | ||
Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams | |
| Words within the letters "a-b-e-h-i-i-l-n-o-p-s-t" | |
-2 letters: epilations, hospitable, neophilias. | |
-3 letters: antipoles, aphelions, basophile, biathlons, epilation, hailstone, libations, neophilia, phlebitis, tailbones, tholepins. | |
-4 letters: absinthe, alienist, alpinist, anethols, antipole, antiship, antislip, aphelion, basophil, bepaints, biathlon, biplanes, bonspiel, botanies, botanise, elations, epiblast, ethanols, haplites, haplonts, helistop, hipbones, hiplines, hobnails, holstein, hoplites, hospital, hospitia, hotlines, inhabits, insolate, instable, isopleth, libation, litanies, naphtols, neoliths. | |
| Words containing the letters "a-b-e-h-i-i-l-n-o-p-s-t" | |
+4 letters: alphabetizations, inhospitableness. | |
+5 letters: hypnotizabilities. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. | |
| 1. Definition 2. Crosswords 3. Quotations: Non-fiction 4. Quotations: Speeches | 5. Usage Frequency 6. Expressions: Internet 7. Translations: Modern 8. Translations: Ancient | 9. Derivations 10. Rhymes 11. Anagrams 12. Bibliography |
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