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

• hostile
• negative

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

Although that relationship can sometimes be antagonistic, the central bank has long had powerful supporters in both parties on Capitol Hill and on its key committees. —John Cassidy, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025

Climate scientists have faced not only extreme working conditions, but also antagonistic political movements that reject their findings and attempt to defund their work entirely. —Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025

Those who don’t keep up with the 3 mph pace are executed by an antagonistic military figure known as the Major (Mark Hamill). —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025

Esmeralda comes closest, but her role (at least in the early episodes) is more of an antagonistic one. —Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see antagonize

First Known Use

circa 1637, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for antagonistic

• anachronistic
• animalistic
• antiphlogistic
• behavioristic
• cannibalistic
• capitalistic
• characteristic
• collectivistic
• deterministic
• ethnolinguistic
• expressionistic
• idealistic

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