as in to infuriate
to implant bitter feelings in
everything he said just antagonized the other side even more
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Recent Examples of antagonize
The thinking is apparently that there is little to be gained by antagonizing a ruthless but also chaotic administration that just might flip the money spigot back on as quickly as it was shut off.
—
Ars Staff, ArsTechnica, 17 Apr. 2025
Throughout their session, Jamie simultaneously antagonizes Briony, accusing her of trying to trick him and scaring her at several points by standing up and screaming directly in her face, and tries to win her over.
—Paula Mejía, The Atlantic, 16 Apr. 2025
And like much of the city’s Democratic establishment, the unions appear more interested in making amends than antagonizing a famously sharp-elbowed leader who could have influence over city contracts and other priorities.
—Nicholas Fandos, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Wantonly and whimsically, Trump has alienated and antagonized the people whom Reagan and many Americans long considered not only friends, neighbors and allies but kin.
—Andreas Kluth, The Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for antagonize
Ars Staff, ArsTechnica, 17 Apr. 2025
Throughout their session, Jamie simultaneously antagonizes Briony, accusing her of trying to trick him and scaring her at several points by standing up and screaming directly in her face, and tries to win her over.
—Paula Mejía, The Atlantic, 16 Apr. 2025
And like much of the city’s Democratic establishment, the unions appear more interested in making amends than antagonizing a famously sharp-elbowed leader who could have influence over city contracts and other priorities.
—Nicholas Fandos, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Wantonly and whimsically, Trump has alienated and antagonized the people whom Reagan and many Americans long considered not only friends, neighbors and allies but kin.
—Andreas Kluth, The Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for antagonize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for antagonize
Verb
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One thing is certain: Tyreek can be frustrating, exciting, dramatic, funny, sobering, entertaining and infuriating all in the same day.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
8 May 2025
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Dorsey’s effort has infuriated critics in a city that has pioneered harm reduction.—
Barnini Chakraborty,
The Washington Examiner,
6 May 2025
Verb
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Jason Kilar, who had just become head of what was then called Warner Media and was part of AT&T, was enraged enough at the messy debut that some executives soon would move on.—
David Bloom,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2025
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The government doesn’t keep statistics regarding the number of white farmers killed, but news of particularly brutal attacks has enraged many Afrikaners.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
14 May 2025
Verb
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Any effort to rename the body of water would likely deeply anger Iran, which was historically called Persia, and perhaps other Middle Eastern states as well.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
7 May 2025
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The English-for-truckers push has particularly angered me, though.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2025
Verb
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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
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Many people feel frustrated — embittered by what some view as an overly cautious approach by the Biden administration, and having endured months of delays in receiving American military assistance last year after it was held up in Congress.—
Marc Santora,
New York Times,
19 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Antagonize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/antagonize. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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