agonistic

adjective

ˌa-gə-ˈni-stik How to pronounce agonistic (audio)
Definition of agonisticnext
as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight clearly a writer with a chip on his shoulder, he's very agonistic even when stating indisputable facts

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of agonistic Their observations reveal that Bruce dominates not only in agonistic interactions but also socially during feeding. — Grrlscientist, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2026 Ong used the word agonistic; oral cultures are competitive. — Derek Thompson, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2026 Many owners in the city feel stuck—the dog is trigger stacked from the urban environment and more likely to have agonistic reactions towards other dogs as a result. — Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Sep. 2025 The kitchen remains bloody and agonistic, demanding the preparation of yet another family meal. — E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 14 July 2023 The agonistic, Faulknerian circumstances fill the house with awful silences. — Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 21 Dec. 2022 Finally, serial attacks may signal the agonistic potential of a family to other flock members. — Ncbi Rofl, Discover Magazine, 11 July 2012
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agonistic
  1. aggressive
  2. militant
  3. hostile
  4. contentious
Adjective
  • Jones more aggressive Jones’ three appearances in the California Classic were defined by a passive way of playing.
    — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 10 July 2026
  • Your dog is reactive or aggressive around other animals or strangers.
    — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 9 July 2026
Definition of aggressive
Adjective
  • The deal envisions peaceful relations between the two states and lays out a road map to disarm the Shiite militant group Hezbollah, secure Israel’s full withdrawal from Lebanon and restore Lebanese sovereignty over its entire national territory.
    — Anthony Wanis-St John, The Conversation, 10 July 2026
  • The Conservative lawmaker David Amess was stabbed to death in 2021 by a man inspired by the militant group, Islamic State.
    — Reuters, CNN Money, 10 July 2026
Definition of militant
Adjective
  • Islamic extremism remains the biggest threat but over the past five years, threats from far-right groups and hostile states have significantly grown, said Laurence Taylor, head of counterterrorism police.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 July 2026
  • Officials said the aircraft will strengthen surveillance over vast northern waters and improve Denmark’s ability to detect hostile submarines operating in the region.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 8 July 2026
Definition of hostile
Adjective
  • An independent review of the scoring in Manny Pacquiao’s contentious WBO welterweight world title loss to Jeff Horn confirms the outcome in favor of the Australian.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
  • Since 2024, singer Frank Carter has stepped into the role established by John Lydon, aka Johnny Rotten, who last performed with the band in 2008 and continues to have a contentious relationship with them.
    — Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 10 July 2026
Definition of contentious

Browse Nearby Words

agonies
agonistic
agonize
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“Agonistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agonistic. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on agonistic

Nglish: Translation of agonistic for Spanish Speakers

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