antagonist
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an·tag·o·nist

noun \an-ˈta-gə-nist\

Definition of ANTAGONIST

1
: one that contends with or opposes another : adversary, opponent
2
: an agent of physiological antagonism: as
a : a muscle that contracts with and limits the action of an agonist with which it is paired —called also antagonistic muscle
b : a chemical that acts within the body to reduce the physiological activity of another chemical substance (as an opiate); especially : one that opposes the action on the nervous system of a drug or a substance occurring naturally in the body by combining with and blocking its nervous receptor — compare agonist 2b

Examples of ANTAGONIST

  1. <please name the novel's hero and his antagonist>
  2. <his antagonist in the boxing match>
  3. They are interested in character first, and in Don, a foul-mouthed psychopath with a hair-trigger temper and buried longings for Gal's wife, they have created a truly scary antagonist. —David Ansen, Newsweek, 18 June 2001

Origin of ANTAGONIST

(see antagonize)
First Known Use: 1575

an·tag·o·nist

noun \-nəst\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of ANTAGONIST

: an agent that acts in physiological opposition <contact between a tooth and its antagonist in the opposing jaw>: as a : a muscle that contracts with and limits the action of an agonist with which it is paired—called also antagonistic muscle; compare agonist 1, synergist 2 b : a chemical that acts within the body to reduce the physiological activity of another chemical substance (as an opiate); especially : one that opposes the action on the nervous system of a drug or a substance occurring naturally in the body by combining with and blocking its nervous receptor—compare agonist 2

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