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
Pritzker has been antagonistic to the Trump administration’s immigration efforts.
—
Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 26 July 2025
His aggressively antagonistic relationship with sister Dee usually devolves into a battle of who can hurt the other the most.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 21 July 2025
Yet many Texas conservatives remain antagonistic toward the possibility of building a bullet train through the heart of the Texas Triangle.
—Alex Driggars, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
Meta’s response reflects a broader clash: Big Tech and the Trump administration see EU oversight as heavy-handed and antagonistic, with US president Donald Trump brandishing tariff threats to push back against the bloc’s digital regulations.
—Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for antagonistic
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Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 26 July 2025
His aggressively antagonistic relationship with sister Dee usually devolves into a battle of who can hurt the other the most.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 21 July 2025
Yet many Texas conservatives remain antagonistic toward the possibility of building a bullet train through the heart of the Texas Triangle.
—Alex Driggars, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
Meta’s response reflects a broader clash: Big Tech and the Trump administration see EU oversight as heavy-handed and antagonistic, with US president Donald Trump brandishing tariff threats to push back against the bloc’s digital regulations.
—Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for antagonistic
Cite this Entry
“Antagonistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/antagonistic. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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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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