antagonistic

adjective

an·​tag·​o·​nis·​tic (ˌ)an-ˌta-gə-ˈni-stik 

: showing dislike or opposition : marked by or resulting from antagonism

an antagonistic relationship

factions antagonistic to one another

antagonistically

(ˌ)an-ˌta-gə-ˈni-sti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• adversarial
• adversary
• antipathetic
• hostile
• inhospitable
• inimical
• jaundiced
• mortal
• negative
• unfriendly
• unsympathetic

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

Playing a more toothless version of antagonistic duos like Flotsam and Jetsam from The Little Mermaid, Yang and James are mildly amusing but underused, ultimately serving little purpose. —David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Nov. 2024

Since then, China’s approach has grown more antagonistic, especially in the past few years. —David Sacks, Foreign Affairs, 8 Nov. 2024

Her goals end up colliding with Oz’s in a very fun and continually evolving manner, moving back and forth between antagonistic and cooperative, depending on the situation. —Eric Goldman, TVLine, 12 Sep. 2024

More specifically, the impudent Skull Kid steals the Ocarina of Time and turns Link into a Deku Scrub, those antagonistic tree cannons first introduced in Ocarina. —Ashley Bardhan, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see antagonize

First Known Use

circa 1637, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

antagonistic

adjective

an·​tag·​o·​nis·​tic (ˌ)an-ˌtag-ə-ˈnis-tik 

: showing antagonism

antagonistically

-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

antagonistic

adjective

an·​tag·​o·​nis·​tic (ˌ)an-ˌtag-ə-ˈnis-tik 

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

-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb