Which word best describes people who are hostile to each other?

• A. unfriendly
• B. diffident
• C. alienated
• D. belligerence

Answer: (C)

When people are hostile to each other, the relationship is marked by estrangement and a sense of social distance. Alienated describes that state precisely: individuals feel apart, unreconciled, and at odds, which fits a situation where hostility emotions and friction have built up between them. It emphasizes the lack of warmth and connection in the relationship itself.

Unfriendly talks about demeanor or attitude on the surface, not necessarily the whole dynamic between two people. Diffident means shy or lacking in self-confidence, which isn’t about hostility. Belligerence refers to aggressive or warlike behavior, which is about actions rather than the overall state of being mutually hostile and estranged.