as in hostile
marked by opposition or ill will
countries that have been antagonistic towards each other for centuries
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 antagonistic
Other prominent cast members in Little House on the Prairie include Allison Arngrim as Nellie Oleson, the antagonistic daughter of general store owners Harriet (Katherine MacGregor) and Nels (Richard Bull).
—
Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025
For her outing, Lawrence wore a black leather jacket with a tall row of buttons, giving off a vibe similar to that of the members of the Volturi, the antagonistic governing body and vampire coven in the film series.
—Starr Bowenbank, People.com, 2 May 2025
The end of season 2, which saw Lee Jung-jae’s Gi-hun try to stage a rebellion against the macabre games and the antagonistic Front Man, ended in a cliffhanger tragedy, so tension is already high going in for this final round.
—Lucy Ford, Time, 19 May 2025
That begins our relationship which is initially antagonistic.
—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for antagonistic
Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025
For her outing, Lawrence wore a black leather jacket with a tall row of buttons, giving off a vibe similar to that of the members of the Volturi, the antagonistic governing body and vampire coven in the film series.
—Starr Bowenbank, People.com, 2 May 2025
The end of season 2, which saw Lee Jung-jae’s Gi-hun try to stage a rebellion against the macabre games and the antagonistic Front Man, ended in a cliffhanger tragedy, so tension is already high going in for this final round.
—Lucy Ford, Time, 19 May 2025
That begins our relationship which is initially antagonistic.
—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for antagonistic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for antagonistic
Adjective
-
That’s coupled with a more hostile political environment for diversity-forward businesses.—
Phoebe Liu,
Forbes.com,
8 June 2025
-
The crowd was right on top of you there, the students rimmed the court, the very definition of a hostile environment.—
Jim Calhoun with Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
8 June 2025
Adjective
-
Despite all the negative attention the movie received, Johnson did not appear concerned with the long-term impact of Madame Web while speaking with the L.A. Times.—
Tommy McArdle,
People.com,
4 June 2025
-
There also exist aspects of their past which would become political fodder in the hands of any opponent’s negative campaign.—
Judith Martin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Antagonistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/antagonistic. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share