English Meaning & Definitions
Showing or feeling active hostility, opposition, or animosity toward someone or something.
- “The two political rivals maintained an antagonistic relationship throughout the debate.”
- “She took an unexpectedly antagonistic tone when questioned about her team's performance.”
Acting in opposition to another muscle, substance, or biological system, thereby neutralizing its effect.
- “The medication produces an antagonistic effect by blocking histamine receptors.”
- “Biceps and triceps operate as antagonistic muscle groups to facilitate arm movement.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “antagonistic”.
Derived from the Ancient Greek 'antagōnistikos', from 'antagōnistes' (an opponent or rival). The word breaks down into 'anti-' (against) and 'agōnizesthai' (to contend or struggle), rooted in 'agōn' (a contest or assembly).
Think of an 'ANTI-agonist'—someone actively fighting against the main protagonist.
Frequently Asked Questions About “antagonistic”
1. What is the meaning of “antagonistic” in English?
In English, antagonistic (adjective) is defined as: “Showing or feeling active hostility, opposition, or animosity toward someone or something.”.
2. How do you use “antagonistic” in a sentence?
“The two political rivals maintained an antagonistic relationship throughout the debate.”
3. What are English synonyms of “antagonistic”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “antagonistic”?
Derived from the Ancient Greek 'antagōnistikos', from 'antagōnistes' (an opponent or rival). The word breaks down into 'anti-' (against) and 'agōnizesthai' (to contend or struggle), rooted in 'agōn' (a contest or assembly).
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.