ag·o·nist
| \ ˈa-gə-nist
\
\
Definition of agonist
1
: one that is engaged in a struggle
2
[from antagonist]
a
: a muscle that is controlled by the action of an antagonist with which it is paired
b
: a chemical substance capable of combining with a specific receptor on a cell and initiating the same reaction or activity typically produced by the binding endogenous substance
dopaminergic agonists
— compare antagonist sense 2b
Examples of agonist in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
On Friday, June 4th, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Novo Nordisk’s obesity drug Wegovy (semaglutide), a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist, to be injected subcutaneously once-weekly.
—
Joshua Cohen, Forbes, 5 June 2021
Her method is based on a sister surgery called the AMI method, invented at the MIT Media Lab, which reconnects agonist and antagonist muscles in amputees.
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Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 15 Feb. 2021
Medical treatments can include hormonal therapy delivered via a combination birth control pill, patch or ring; or a progesterone-only pill, injection, implant or I.U.D.; as well as drugs called GnRH agonists and antagonists.
—
Katherine Hobson, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2020
Other types of drugs — such as gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists — can shrink tumors by decreasing the hormone producing activity of your ovaries, lowering your estrogen levels.
—
Hilda Hutcherson, New York Times, 17 Apr. 2020
Throughout treatment, participants are actively discouraged, if not outright banned from, using opioid agonists that could aid their recovery.
—
Emma Yasinski, chicagotribune.com, 30 Sep. 2019
Wait until the hirsute, halting ant-agonists actually appear.
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Elizabeth Horkley, Quartz, 30 Oct. 2019
That is a remarkable achievement, but not one that inspires the kind of hero-worship that accompanies larger-than-life founders and agonists on the model of Steve Jobs.
—
Kevin D. Williamson, National Review, 15 Oct. 2019
The drugs used can include luteinizing-hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists, which work to turn off the ovaries’ production of estrogen (this hormone can stoke cancer development).
—
Korin Miller, SELF, 13 Dec. 2018
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'agonist.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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Last Updated
14 Jun 2021
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Cite this Entry
“Agonist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/agonist. Accessed 22 Jun. 2021.
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More Definitions for agonist
agonist
noun
ag·o·nist
| \ ˈag-ə-nəst
\
\
Medical Definition of agonist
1
: a muscle that on contracting is automatically checked and controlled by the opposing simultaneous contraction of another muscle
— called also agonist muscle, prime mover
— compare antagonist sense a, synergist sense 2
2
: a chemical substance (as a drug) capable of combining with a receptor on a cell and initiating the same reaction or activity typically produced by the binding of an endogenous substance
binding of adrenergic agonists
— compare antagonist sense b
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Time Traveler for agonist
The first known use of agonist was in 1658
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