Synonyms of antagonistic

antagonistic

adjective

(ˌ)an-ˌta-gə-ˈni-stik 

as in hostile

marked by opposition or ill will

countries that have been antagonistic towards each other for centuries

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hostile
• negative
• adverse
• contentious
• adversarial
• unfavorable
• antipathetic
• conflicting
• opposed
• inimical
• unfriendly
• adversary
• inhospitable
• unpleasant
• unsympathetic
• jaundiced
• militant
• mortal
• belligerent
• combative
• contrary
• malicious
• bellicose
• pugnacious
• icy
• frigid
• resisting
• antisocial
• disagreeable
• quarrelsome
• argumentative
• truculent
• clashing
• distant
• rude
• disputatious
• biased
• hateful
• bitter
• virulent
• disapproving
• spiteful
• unkind
• vindictive
• discourteous
• prejudiced
• cold
• malevolent
• malignant
• scrappy
• acrimonious
• uncivil
• unsociable
• surly
• impolite
• inconsiderate
• unmannerly
• malign
• impertinent
• cool
• rancorous
• opprobrious
• unloving
• ill-mannered
• despiteful
• ill-bred

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sympathetic
• friendly
• social
• hospitable
• civil
• amiable
• cordial
• pleasant
• warm
• amicable
• genial
• affable
• gracious
• neighborly
• nonhostile
• convivial
• gregarious
• sociable
• nonantagonistic
• companionable
• loving
• affectionate
• kind
• sweet
• good-natured
• favorable
• devoted
• benign
• kindly
• nice
• agreeable
• comradely
• empathetic
• good-tempered
• accepting
• understanding
• welcoming
• warmhearted
• approving

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of antagonistic

The cowgirl character teams with old friend Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) to battle a tech takeover of their home from an antagonistic frog tablet named Lilypad (Greta Lee). — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 17 June 2026

And given this context, Anthropic’s actions are viewed by many within Washington as not simply unwise, but actively antagonistic. — Tina Nguyen, The Verge, 17 June 2026

Still, the relationship was at times antagonistic. — Cesar R. Torres, The Conversation, 17 June 2026

He’s drawn to attempting to achieve things that his predecessors could not, including seizing territory for the United States (Greenland, for sure, but maybe Canada, too) and toppling antagonistic regimes (Venezuela, Iran, possibly Cuba). — Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 12 June 2026