1
as in enemies
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 opponents
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 antagonists
As Evil-Lyn Alison Brie’s character, Evil-Lyn, as her name suggests, is one of the film’s antagonists.
—
Olivia Singh, Forbes.com, 5 June 2026
Rather than positioning herself as one of the president’s loudest Democratic antagonists, Whitmer opted to work with the White House on issues affecting Michigan.
—Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 31 May 2026
Much of these first two episodes is devoted to setting up the Jacksons as the show’s antagonists — sometimes unexpectedly.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 15 May 2026
Along the way, the poets encounter the likes of Cleopatra and the various antagonists of the Trojan War — Achilles, Helen of Troy and Paris — in the second circle where those who fell under the sin of lust end up.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 11 May 2026
Chin Han stars as Shang Tsung, one of the main antagonists in the first movie.
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 9 May 2026
Brooks is one of the league's best defensive players and best antagonists.
—ABC News, 18 Apr. 2026
Over the years, audiences have developed a deep hunger for these underwater antagonists – hello, Shark Week!
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026
The antagonists join forces in the sequel to combat the technological alien threat known as Brainiac (new cast member Lars Eidinger).
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 8 Apr. 2026
Olivia Singh, Forbes.com, 5 June 2026
Rather than positioning herself as one of the president’s loudest Democratic antagonists, Whitmer opted to work with the White House on issues affecting Michigan.
—Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 31 May 2026
Much of these first two episodes is devoted to setting up the Jacksons as the show’s antagonists — sometimes unexpectedly.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 15 May 2026
Along the way, the poets encounter the likes of Cleopatra and the various antagonists of the Trojan War — Achilles, Helen of Troy and Paris — in the second circle where those who fell under the sin of lust end up.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 11 May 2026
Chin Han stars as Shang Tsung, one of the main antagonists in the first movie.
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 9 May 2026
Brooks is one of the league's best defensive players and best antagonists.
—ABC News, 18 Apr. 2026
Over the years, audiences have developed a deep hunger for these underwater antagonists – hello, Shark Week!
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026
The antagonists join forces in the sequel to combat the technological alien threat known as Brainiac (new cast member Lars Eidinger).
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 8 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for antagonists
Noun
-
Hunger and disease are always enemies that accompany war and sometimes can claim more lives than the fighting itself.—
William Lambers,
Hartford Courant,
6 June 2026
-
The big and heavy fights in the new trailer for gen ATLAS (shown below) really remind me of fighting various large enemies in Gigantic Drive.—
Ollie Barder,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Noun
-
Donalds’ opponents have repeatedly tried to knock him for supporting the expansion of AI data centers in the state.—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
1 June 2026
-
Up until the issuing of the judge’s temporary restraining order, many of its opponents described feeling helpless about a project that, in their eyes, had an air of inevitability.—
Matthew Stolle,
Twin Cities,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
The dog paces to and fro, hackles bristling, snapping at the empty air, its head turning one way, then the other, as if aware of invisible foes in the valley around them.—
Maggie O’Farrell,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
-
Daemon rocks the trailer with blood on his face from sticking his sword into foes.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
During the course of the series so far, the two best teams in baseball had become the bitterest of rivals, the animosity between them fueled by the Cubs’ treatment of their teammate Mark Koenig, a versatile infielder who’d been traded from the Yankees in mid-season.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
-
James Adams, a political science professor at UC Davis, said that Becerra and Bass coming through indicates the centrist Democratic candidates were in a stronger short-term position than their rivals.—
National Correspondent,
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
Following the release of the shipbuilding plan, Cao took to X to highlight the administration’s efforts to combat US adversaries like China.—
Shelby Talcott,
semafor.com,
3 June 2026
-
Circuit boards present all sorts of opportunities for adversaries to sneak through malicious components.—
Katie Tarasov,
CNBC,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Antagonists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/antagonists. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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