antagonism

noun an·tag·o·nism \ an-ˈta-gə-ˌni-zəm \

Updated on: 12 Apr 2018

Definition of antagonism

1 a : opposition of a conflicting force, tendency, or principle

the antagonism of democracy to dictatorship

b : actively expressed opposition or hostility

antagonism between factions

personal antagonism

2 : opposition in physiological action; especially : interaction of two or more substances such that the action of any one of them on living cells or tissues is lessened

See antagonism defined for English-language learners

See antagonism defined for kids

Examples of antagonism in a Sentence

The region has a long history of ethnic antagonisms.
the antagonism between them was so bad they couldn't even sit near each other

Recent Examples of antagonism from the Web

And a third is Williamson’s venom, his evident relish in antagonizing for the sake of antagonism.

— sarah jones, The New Republic, "The Conservative Columnist Conundrum," 27 Mar. 2018
That checkered, decade-long route to standing behind the movie camera drives some of the antagonism toward him in Russia.

— neil macfarquhar, New York Times, "A Russian Master of the ‘Dark Side’ in Film," 23 Feb. 2018
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia–have long since turned to the West; NATO troops are even stationed there now, a direct result of Russia’s continued antagonism.

— ian bremmer, Time, "Putin Won. But Russia Is Losing," 22 Mar. 2018
The big surprise was how joint membership of the bloc helped bring an end to old antagonisms between the two countries.

— paul hannon, WSJ, "Ireland’s Quandary: It Has a Brexit Veto That Could Be Risky to Use," 22 Mar. 2018
Flake's antagonism of Trump resulted in a public feud in 2017 that culminated with Flake abandoning his 2018 re-election bid.

— dan nowicki, azcentral, "Sen. Jeff Flake: We'll impeach President Donald Trump if he fires Robert Mueller," 20 Mar. 2018
The children fought among themselves and eyed their new stepparents with various degrees of antagonism or, worse, indifference.

— Vogue, "How One Writer Wrestled With Her Role as a First—and Second—Wife," 15 Mar. 2018
Perhaps that is the role that Gerry Adams really played, helping to lock Northern Ireland into its own history, turning Belfast into a kind of living museum of the 20th-century antagonisms of the Isles.

— michael brendan dougherty, National Review, "What Gerry Adams Leaves Behind," 10 Feb. 2018
Following the fall of the Soviet Union, Kim Jong Il used the same tactic between China and South Korea, switching between antagonism and reconciliation.

— charlie campbell / beijing, Time, "Self-Championed Dealmaker Donald Trump Faces the Ultimate Test Meeting Kim Jong Un," 9 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'antagonism.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of antagonism

see antagonize

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1716

in the meaning defined at sense 2a

See Words from the same year

antagonism Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of antagonism

enmity, hostility, antipathy, antagonism, animosity, rancor, animus mean deep-seated dislike or ill will. enmity suggests positive hatred which may be open or concealed.

- an unspoken enmity

hostility suggests an enmity showing itself in attacks or aggression.

- hostility between the two nations

antipathy and antagonism imply a natural or logical basis for one's hatred or dislike, antipathy suggesting repugnance, a desire to avoid or reject, and antagonism suggesting a clash of temperaments leading readily to hostility.

- a natural antipathy for self-seekers
- antagonism between the brothers

animosity suggests intense ill will and vindictiveness that threaten to kindle hostility.

- animosity that led to revenge

rancor is especially applied to bitter brooding over a wrong.

- rancor filled every line of his letters

animus adds to animosity the implication of strong prejudice.

- objections devoid of personal animus

ANTAGONISM Defined for English Language Learners

antagonism

noun

Definition of antagonism for English Language Learners

: a strong feeling of dislike or hatred : a desire to oppose something you dislike or disagree with

ANTAGONISM Defined for Kids

antagonism

noun an·tag·o·nism \ an-ˈta-gə-ˌni-zəm \

Definition of antagonism for Students

: a strong feeling of dislike or disagreement

Medical Dictionary

antagonism

noun an·tag·o·nism \ an-ˈtag-ə-ˌniz-əm \

medical Definition of antagonism

: opposition in physiological action:

a : opposing action in the effect of contraction of muscles (as the extensors and flexors of a part)

b : interaction of two or more substances such that the action of any one of them on living cells or tissues is lessened (as by interference with the uptake or by an opposing physiological reaction) — compare synergism