Model, after work, departs hostile (7)
I believe the answer is:
opposed
'hostile' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'model after work departs' is the wordplay.
'model' becomes 'pose' (synonyms).
'after' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'work' becomes 'op' (abbreviation for opus).
'departs' becomes 'd' (common abbreviation e.g. train timetables).
'pose' after 'op' is 'oppose'.
'oppose'+'d'='OPPOSED'
(Other definitions for opposed that I've seen before include "Stood against" , "likely to refuse?" , "Objected to" , "Anti" , "Withstood" .)