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

antagonistically

(ˌ)an-ˌta-gə-ˈni-sti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• hostile
• negative

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

Conversely, after Lai used less antagonistic language toward China in speeches this May and October, China declined to hold large military drills. —Stephen Wertheim, Foreign Affairs, 28 Oct. 2025

The old-school business models used to support this sort of antagonistic reporting because the papers were subsidized by classified ads and lifestyle coverage. —David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025

And the number of those filmmakers antagonistic to AI is long. —Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2025

Sawa played Scott Wormer, the leader of a group of antagonistic brothers who ultimately falls for Roberta. —Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see antagonize

First Known Use

circa 1637, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for antagonistic

• anachronistic
• animalistic
• antiphlogistic
• behavioristic
• cannibalistic
• capitalistic
• characteristic
• collectivistic
• deterministic
• ethnolinguistic
• expressionistic
• idealistic

Kids Definition

antagonistic

adjective

an·​tag·​o·​nis·​tic (ˌ)an-ˌtag-ə-ˈnis-tik 

: showing antagonism

antagonistically

-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

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

antagonistically

-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb