as in hostile
marked by opposition or ill will
countries that have been antagonistic towards each other for centuries
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Recent Examples of antagonistic
An antagonistic environment does nothing to help the personal growth of a person or a company.
—
Greg Dolan, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
Yet Trump's antagonistic stance toward wind energy — a powerhouse industry in Iowa — has also added to the sense of broken promises among some voters.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 July 2025
There’s plenty implied by brief conversations and Hailey’s attitude, but questions about who these people are — and their role beyond that of antagonistic foils to our central crew — linger, detracting from the power of this otherwise fine film.
—Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 3 July 2025
This one's perfect for those who love a creature feature as antagonistic gigantic alligators swarm the floodwaters that engulf a home where a young woman lives with her father.
—Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for antagonistic
Greg Dolan, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
Yet Trump's antagonistic stance toward wind energy — a powerhouse industry in Iowa — has also added to the sense of broken promises among some voters.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 July 2025
There’s plenty implied by brief conversations and Hailey’s attitude, but questions about who these people are — and their role beyond that of antagonistic foils to our central crew — linger, detracting from the power of this otherwise fine film.
—Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 3 July 2025
This one's perfect for those who love a creature feature as antagonistic gigantic alligators swarm the floodwaters that engulf a home where a young woman lives with her father.
—Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for antagonistic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for antagonistic
Adjective
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In recent weeks, both have also moved military forces to the border near Assab and are engaging in escalating exchanges of hostile rhetoric.—
Mulugeta Gebrehiwot Berhe,
Foreign Affairs,
5 Aug. 2025
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Meanwhile, Trump has moved closer to Pakistan, with which India has hostile relations and the U.S. has historically had a complex and sometimes tense relationship, especially as Pakistan has grown closer to and is primarily armed by China.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Fewer visitors translate to less visitor spending, and in turn to lower tax revenue and job losses in the tourism industry, sending a negative ripple effect throughout the national economy.—
Suzanne Rowan Kelleher,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
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The negative consequences of this content go well beyond the individuals misquoted.—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
15 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Antagonistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/antagonistic. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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