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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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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
  • Andersen in particular has struggled with such an aggressive role, where recovery pace and stomping channel defending are required to keep the shape.
    — Thom Harris, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Brown has two catches that converted third downs into firsts, providing a release valve against some aggressive Seahawks blitzes.
    — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of aggressive
Adjective
  • There are concerns that the Houthis' advance toward the Bab el-Mandeb Strait could have significant ramifications for energy markets and global trade, particularly if the militant group ratchets up threats or attacks on Red Sea shipping.
    — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Mohammed was captured in Pakistan in 2003, accused of developing and directing the 9/11 attacks, as a leader of the Islamic militant group Al Qaeda.
    — Larry Neumeister, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of militant
Adjective
  • Terrorism wasn’t a completely foreign concept, but the notion of a hostile, coordinated attack on our soil, at that scale, seemed like something that might only happen in a Tom Clancy novel or a summer blockbuster movie.
    — Michael Silver, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Now, civil engineer Jishen Qiu and his team wondered if engineers could exploit Mars’s hostile climate, rather than fighting the planet’s extremely low temperature.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of hostile
Adjective
  • The union planned to conclude a contentious bargaining period with Stellantis on Friday.
    — Liam Rappleye, Freep.com, 11 Sep. 2026
  • When the parents are suspected of child abuse, Norway's powerful child protection services gets involved and takes the five kids away, including a baby, and kicks off a long and contentious legal process that takes a toll on Mihai and Lisbet.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of contentious

Browse Nearby Words

agonies
agonistic
agonize
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Cite this Entry

“Agonistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agonistic. Accessed 18 Sep. 2026.

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