antagonistic

adjective

an·​tag·​o·​nis·​tic (ˌ)an-ˌta-gə-ˈni-stik How to pronounce antagonistic (audio)
: showing dislike or opposition : marked by or resulting from antagonism
an antagonistic relationship
factions antagonistic to one another
antagonistically adverb

Examples of antagonistic in a Sentence

They found it impossible to deal with such antagonistic groups. countries that have been antagonistic towards each other for centuries
Recent Examples on the Web Oliva said the loss of income and antagonistic attitude from the store manager have taken a toll. Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024 As the interview grows increasingly antagonistic, the CEO secretly grapples with her desire to unleash the technology on the world. Katcy Stephan, Variety, 2 Mar. 2024 In a lesser film, Mary would simply be a side character used to advance Paul and Angus’s journey from antagonistic rivals to unlikely allies. Kathleen Newman-Bremang, refinery29.com, 24 Nov. 2023 Trump’s reactions to Nikki Haley go well beyond the conventions of internecine party campaign antagonistic rhetoric. Richard Vatz, Baltimore Sun, 7 Feb. 2024 American society is structurally antagonistic toward single and solo-living people. Clare Egan, Longreads, 13 Feb. 2024 Jane appeared in a season two episode of Entourage in 2005, leading a group of women who help Vincent (Adrian Grenier) and E (Kevin Connolly) placate an antagonistic journalist (Rainn Wilson). Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 25 Jan. 2024 Randolph plays Mary, a woman who recently lost her son in the Vietnam War, and in a lesser film, Mary would simply be a side character used to advance the lead characters Paul and Angus’s journey from antagonistic rivals to unlikely allies. Kathleen Newman-Bremang, refinery29.com, 20 Dec. 2023 The authors note that these extended life spans are part of what enabled them to find evidence for antagonistic pleiotropy in the genomic data. Diana Gitig, Ars Technica, 8 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'antagonistic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see antagonize

First Known Use

circa 1637, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of antagonistic was circa 1637

Dictionary Entries Near antagonistic

Cite this Entry

“Antagonistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/antagonistic. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

antagonistic

adjective
an·​tag·​o·​nis·​tic (ˌ)an-ˌtag-ə-ˈnis-tik How to pronounce antagonistic (audio)
: showing antagonism
antagonistically adverb

Medical Definition

antagonistic

adjective
an·​tag·​o·​nis·​tic (ˌ)an-ˌtag-ə-ˈnis-tik How to pronounce antagonistic (audio)
1
: characterized by or resulting from antagonism
antagonistic antibiotics
2
: relating to or being muscles that are antagonists
skeletal muscles arranged in antagonistic pairs
antagonistically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on antagonistic

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