inhospitable

inhospitable — adjective

1. describing a person, group, or place that makes visitors or strangers feel unwan

1.形容詞B2
釋義

describing a person, group, or place that makes visitors or strangers feel unwanted, uncomfortable, or not welcome — for example, a host who offers no refreshment or a town where locals refuse to help travellers.

例句

The villagers were inhospitable towards the travellers, refusing them food or shelter.

inhospitable towards [someone] — preposition pattern

Emre found the city centre surprisingly inhospitable — no one would give him directions.

同義詞
  • unwelcoming

    more common and less formal; a direct synonym

  • hostile

    stronger and more aggressive; suggests active opposition rather than passive coldness

  • cold

    focuses on emotional distance rather than failing to host

反義詞
  • hospitable

    the direct opposite; welcoming and generous to visitors

  • welcoming

    more common in everyday speech

文法句型

inhospitable + towards/to + noun phrase

be + inhospitable

attributive: an inhospitable + noun

用法筆記

Typically describes a place, group, or atmosphere rather than a person's permanent character. A colleague who is rarely friendly is better described as unfriendly; inhospitable implies a failure to welcome visitors in particular.

常見錯誤

❌My new colleague was inhospitable to me on my first day.
✅My new colleague was unfriendly to me on my first day.
💡'inhospitable' specifically describes a failure to welcome visitors or guests, not general unfriendliness between co-workers.
❌The weather was inhospitable.
✅The weather was unpleasant.
💡'inhospitable' for weather/setting belongs to sense 2 (about harsh environments), not sense 1 (about unfriendliness to visitors).

2. describing a place or area that has extreme, difficult conditions — such as extr

2.形容詞B2
釋義

describing a place or area that has extreme, difficult conditions — such as extreme cold, heat, dryness, or rocky ground — making it hard for people, animals, or plants to live or grow there.

例句

The Gobi Desert is one of the most inhospitable places on Earth, with almost no water.

superlative: the most inhospitable

Adisa tried to grow vegetables on the inhospitable hillside, but only weeds survived.

同義詞
  • barren

    focuses on lack of plant life and resources; less extreme than inhospitable

  • desolate

    emphasises emptiness and a feeling of isolation

  • forbidding

    suggests an appearance that discourages approach

  • harsh

    more general; can describe climate or conditions without implying impossibility of life

反義詞
  • hospitable

    opposite for this sense too — means a place where life can thrive

  • fertile

    specifically about the land supporting plant growth

  • lush

    describes rich, dense plant life

文法句型

so + inhospitable + that + clause

inhospitable + [place noun]

the most + inhospitable + [place noun]

用法筆記

Often describes natural landscapes — deserts, mountain peaks, polar regions, or volcanic slopes. When used for weather, it means the climate itself makes survival difficult, not simply that the weather is unpleasant.

常見錯誤

❌The party had an inhospitable atmosphere.
✅The party had an unfriendly atmosphere.
💡For social settings, use sense 1 (NOT WELCOMING), not sense 2.