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
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for agonist
The first known use of agonist was in 1658
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