antagonize

verb

an·​tag·​o·​nize an-ˈta-gə-ˌnīz 

antagonized; antagonizing

transitive verb

1

: to incur or provoke the hostility of

His criticism antagonized his friends.

2

: to act in opposition to : counteract

The drug is antagonized by methylxanthines, such as caffeine and theophylline …

—Scientific American Medicine

Synonyms

• embitter
• empoison
• envenom

Examples of antagonize in a Sentence

He didn't mean to antagonize you.

Her comments antagonized many people.

Recent Examples on the Web

Guests will sometimes antagonize Deesamer, really try to fight him. —Sangeeta Singh-Kurtz, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2025

Yet by antagonizing America's allies instead of seeking to lead a united front from the free world, Trump risks hampering America's response. —Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 3 Feb. 2025

Graham was careful not to antagonize Johnson, who can't afford to lose more than one GOP vote on anything these days. —Axios, 7 Feb. 2025

Venezuela’s opposition leaders, while careful not to antagonize the Trump administration, could not hide their disappointment. —Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Greek antagōnizesthai, from anti- + agōnizesthai to struggle, from agōn contest — more at agony

First Known Use

circa 1742, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for antagonize

• actualize
• apologise
• apologize
• capitalize
• categorize
• characterize
• commercialize
• conceptualize
• contrariwise
• criminalize
• decentralize
• democratize

Kids Definition

antagonize

verb

an·​tag·​o·​nize an-ˈtag-ə-ˌnīz 

antagonized; antagonizing

: to stir up dislike or anger in

Medical Definition

antagonize

transitive verb

an·​tag·​o·​nize

variants also British antagonise

an-ˈtag-ə-ˌnīz 

antagonized also British antagonised; antagonizing also British antagonising

: to act in antagonism to : counteract

these effects are antagonized by atropine

—Ernest Bueding & Harry Most