1
as in enemy
one that is hostile toward another
please name the novel's hero and his antagonist
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in opponent
one that takes a position opposite another in a competition or conflict
his antagonist in the boxing match
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of antagonist
Like all good dramas, there must be an antagonist.
—
Stephen Wilder, Cincinnati Enquirer, 3 Mar. 2026
Even those who hated the ayatollah have now entered a story without its reliable antagonist.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
Their antagonist is the late James Van Der Beek.
—Juliana Ukiomogbe, InStyle, 3 Mar. 2026
And yet there Friedmann was, waving at his antagonist.
—James Verini, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for antagonist
Stephen Wilder, Cincinnati Enquirer, 3 Mar. 2026
Even those who hated the ayatollah have now entered a story without its reliable antagonist.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
Their antagonist is the late James Van Der Beek.
—Juliana Ukiomogbe, InStyle, 3 Mar. 2026
And yet there Friedmann was, waving at his antagonist.
—James Verini, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for antagonist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for antagonist
Noun
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Meanwhile, the Afghans claimed that more than 50 enemy soldiers had died along the border.—
Mihir Sharma,
Twin Cities,
8 Mar. 2026
-
The ship bears the name of a Marine Corps Reserve member who was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1952 for holding off enemy forces and shielding fellow Marines during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War.—
Gary Robbins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Marcus Smart stepped in front of driving opponents.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
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The club also won its first three league matches for the first time while outscoring its opponents 6-0.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In Oakland, the company has encountered numerous foes, including former Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price, who unsuccessfully tried to indict Radius on numerous felony charges in 2023 over a massive fire that left black smoke billowing in the sky.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
8 Mar. 2026
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Over that eight-game win streak, only two foes had shot better than 50% from the floor (UNLV, Air Force) and only one — the Zoomies — had connected at a 40% clip or better from beyond the arc.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The term idols become rivals could apply here, but their brotherhood through their Duke ties keeps their bond strong.—
Mike Curtis,
Dallas Morning News,
6 Mar. 2026
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An eighth-grader at Maranatha Christian School won the county spelling bee Thursday, beating his closest rival after a one-on-one face-off that lasted 13 rounds.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In wartime — when adversaries mine social media for intelligence about targeting accuracy and air defense capabilities — officials are especially sensitive.—
Mohammed Sergie,
semafor.com,
12 Mar. 2026
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So why shouldn’t Trump exploit that fragility to land a death blow against a murderous adversary?—
Franklin Foer,
The Atlantic,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Antagonist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/antagonist. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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