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
Make government smaller, faster, and less antagonistic to people who want to build a life.
—
Mike Garcia, Oc Register, 9 Mar. 2026
In a film that nimbly walks the tightrope between lightheartedness and weightlessness, Jerry and Mabel’s antagonistic relationship ends up proving the unexpected core of the story.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 2 Mar. 2026
Over the past few years, the tech world has become increasingly hostile to traditional media outlets, dismissing them as technologically illiterate or openly antagonistic toward the industry.
—Diego Lasarte, New Yorker, 25 Feb. 2026
Social media spreads antagonistic messages that might have circulated privately in past decades across a polarized society immediately – everywhere.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 22 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for antagonistic
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Mike Garcia, Oc Register, 9 Mar. 2026
In a film that nimbly walks the tightrope between lightheartedness and weightlessness, Jerry and Mabel’s antagonistic relationship ends up proving the unexpected core of the story.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 2 Mar. 2026
Over the past few years, the tech world has become increasingly hostile to traditional media outlets, dismissing them as technologically illiterate or openly antagonistic toward the industry.
—Diego Lasarte, New Yorker, 25 Feb. 2026
Social media spreads antagonistic messages that might have circulated privately in past decades across a polarized society immediately – everywhere.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 22 Feb. 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 15 Mar. 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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