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
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
Further, a separate gesture from De Paul that appeared antagonistic toward those supporters went uncaptured, as did Messi’s post-game maneuver to round up De Paul and Suarez, keeping them away explicitly from La Familia’s side of the stadium during post-game pleasantries.
—
Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
While Foote attempted to project positivity, his daily briefings were often unclear and antagonistic with the local media.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 19 May 2026
This has been, in no small part, because Russia’s writers have often played an antagonistic role in the efforts of Russia’s rulers to shape a particular image of the country, including Alexander Pushkin and Leo Tolstoy—arguably Russia’s two most iconic literary geniuses.
—Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
In one of the more audacious big screen headlining roles, Michael Fassbender, Oscar winner Alicia Vikander and Taylor Russell play antagonistic aliens in South Korean director Na Hong-Jin’s sci-fi monster movie, Hope.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for antagonistic
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Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
While Foote attempted to project positivity, his daily briefings were often unclear and antagonistic with the local media.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 19 May 2026
This has been, in no small part, because Russia’s writers have often played an antagonistic role in the efforts of Russia’s rulers to shape a particular image of the country, including Alexander Pushkin and Leo Tolstoy—arguably Russia’s two most iconic literary geniuses.
—Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
In one of the more audacious big screen headlining roles, Michael Fassbender, Oscar winner Alicia Vikander and Taylor Russell play antagonistic aliens in South Korean director Na Hong-Jin’s sci-fi monster movie, Hope.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for antagonistic
Cite this Entry
“Antagonistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/antagonistic. Accessed 31 May. 2026.
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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
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