as in to infuriate
to implant bitter feelings in
everything he said just antagonized the other side even more
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of antagonize
Two people made extremely poor decisions to attack, antagonize and interfere with federal immigration enforcement.
—
Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2026
Even more important than retaining loyalists, as the Post’s recent history proves, is not deliberately antagonizing them or your own talent.
—John Williams, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2026
But such a visit would antagonize China and South Korea, where the shrine is viewed as a symbol of Japanese imperial aggression and historical denialism.
—Jeff Kingston, Time, 15 Feb. 2026
People from Maldonado’s group began antagonizing Jaquez’s group about not fully paying for their beer, according to the affidavit.
—Elissa Jorgensen, Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for antagonize
Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2026
Even more important than retaining loyalists, as the Post’s recent history proves, is not deliberately antagonizing them or your own talent.
—John Williams, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2026
But such a visit would antagonize China and South Korea, where the shrine is viewed as a symbol of Japanese imperial aggression and historical denialism.
—Jeff Kingston, Time, 15 Feb. 2026
People from Maldonado’s group began antagonizing Jaquez’s group about not fully paying for their beer, according to the affidavit.
—Elissa Jorgensen, Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for antagonize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for antagonize
Verb
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Kline was frustrated and even infuriated by the military's past reluctance.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Kline was frustrated and even infuriated by the military's past reluctance.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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With a German commandant enraged, Edmonds stood his ground and invoked prisoners' rights under international law.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Mar. 2026
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Onitsuka, whose group led Saturday’s rally, added that the American people are also enraged to have their tax dollars pay for an unjust and unsanctioned war that’s causing death and destruction as many struggle to survive in this country.—
La Risa R. Lynch,
jsonline.com,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The two sat up front and refused to move, angering the driver, who stormed off at every stop, all through the night.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
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The policy coincided with hurricane season, and relief efforts in states such as Missouri, North Carolina, and California were delayed, angering the public and, in many cases, their Republican representatives.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Here, the situation has changed, leaving many of the gods either hardened or embittered by the conflict.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
27 Sep. 2025
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Domestic and regional actors often manipulate aid deliveries, creating a skewed economy that leaves some people embittered and others emboldened.—
Maha Yahya,
Foreign Affairs,
17 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Antagonize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/antagonize. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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