1
as in enemy
one that is hostile toward another
please name the novel's hero and his antagonist
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in opponent
one that takes a position opposite another in a competition or conflict
his antagonist in the boxing match
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of antagonist
With Minnesota having won all eight meetings against the Valkyries, Williams arriving as the night’s antagonist felt less like a storyline and more like a natural conclusion.
—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
20 June 2026
All of which makes Toy Story 5’s proposition that high-tech new additions, like proto-tablet antagonist Lilypad (Greta Lee), can also talk, think, and move around on their own downright maddening.
—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
18 June 2026
The movie, which reunites the gang in a battle against an iPad-like antagonist named Lilypad, has a strong premise, and its dynamic, watercolor-style rendering of playtime is a big step forward animation-wise.
—
Jacob Stern,
The Atlantic,
17 June 2026
Beyond harsher criticism, sports media frames Black athletes differently — often naming them as villains, failures, antagonists or questioning their leadership when necessary.
—
Brielle Miller,
Baltimore Sun,
16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for antagonist
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
20 June 2026
All of which makes Toy Story 5’s proposition that high-tech new additions, like proto-tablet antagonist Lilypad (Greta Lee), can also talk, think, and move around on their own downright maddening.
—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
18 June 2026
The movie, which reunites the gang in a battle against an iPad-like antagonist named Lilypad, has a strong premise, and its dynamic, watercolor-style rendering of playtime is a big step forward animation-wise.
—
Jacob Stern,
The Atlantic,
17 June 2026
Beyond harsher criticism, sports media frames Black athletes differently — often naming them as villains, failures, antagonists or questioning their leadership when necessary.
—
Brielle Miller,
Baltimore Sun,
16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for antagonist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for antagonist
Noun
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Republican legislators, taking their lead from a president who sees half the nation as his personal enemy, have put their own party’s interests over the republic’s.
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Unluckily, Alys, freshly alienated by Daemon, arrives just in time to nurse the enemy of her enemy back to health.
Noun
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The program posed a massive political problem for Mamdani, who’s been criticized by both his allies and opponents for his stance.
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Other opponents generally feel compelled to drop an extra player into the back line, forming a back five against Japan’s front five — as the Netherlands did, with Frenkie de Jong dropping in from midfield.
Noun
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With Aemond gone, Rhaenrya dragon-waltzes into King's Landing, an entry made possible by peace-seeking former foe and childhood bestie Alicent.
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The 2018 runners-up and 2022 third-place finishers have three wins and a draw against African World Cup foes since 2014, including their third-place victory over Morocco.
Noun
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In what felt like an absolute fever dream, the PIX 11 studio team was talking to reporter Steve Gelbs before a game against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies.
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Escalating violence Sydney’s western suburbs are ground zero for a turf war that’s seen criminal gangs shoot up rivals’ homes, ignite cars and businesses, kidnap and kill associates and terrorize their families.
Noun
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That timing gap is the real adversary.
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Seoul — North Korea on Tuesday commissioned its largest-ever warship, a 5,000-ton destroyer that military analysts say could give Pyongyang’s adversaries something more to think about in a time of crisis.
Cite this Entry
“Antagonist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/antagonist. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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