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
Indeed, their body language and working relationship belies nothing of the boorish, antagonistic dynamic between Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio, whose enmity risked lives (as when Cuomo held up a mass Covid vaccine site in New York due to his beef with de Blasio).
—
Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
Advertisement An alternative to flattery AI proposed by researchers from Harvard and the University of Montreal is antagonistic AI.
—Arianna Huffington, Time, 14 Jan. 2026
The federal government’s antagonistic posture has raised the question of how much the state’s leaders should fight the administration, versus keeping a low profile to avoid the president’s wrath.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 13 Jan. 2026
Despite their antagonistic start, the pair can’t help falling for each other and are now happily married with two children.
—Tanya Melendez, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for antagonistic
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Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
Advertisement An alternative to flattery AI proposed by researchers from Harvard and the University of Montreal is antagonistic AI.
—Arianna Huffington, Time, 14 Jan. 2026
The federal government’s antagonistic posture has raised the question of how much the state’s leaders should fight the administration, versus keeping a low profile to avoid the president’s wrath.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 13 Jan. 2026
Despite their antagonistic start, the pair can’t help falling for each other and are now happily married with two children.
—Tanya Melendez, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Jan. 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 28 Jan. 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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