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
At a time when many in the business community tried to avoid antagonizing the Chinese government, Lai’s publications ran images that readers often brought to anti-government protests—including one that featured Hong Kong’s leader, Tung Chee-hwa, getting hit in the face with a pie.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Mar. 2026
The people briefed on the episode, who declined to be named so as to not antagonize the mayor, argued the backlash raises questions about whether her work should be more closely vetted.
—Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 23 Mar. 2026
Your points are eloquent as Mercury and Mars align, but your attitude may antagonize your audience.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 15 Mar. 2026
Produced through his Loser Films shingle, the film is about a group of small-town amateur stuntmen whose days revolve around drinking, antagonizing their community, and filming crude, Jackass-style stunts.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for antagonize
Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Mar. 2026
The people briefed on the episode, who declined to be named so as to not antagonize the mayor, argued the backlash raises questions about whether her work should be more closely vetted.
—Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 23 Mar. 2026
Your points are eloquent as Mercury and Mars align, but your attitude may antagonize your audience.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 15 Mar. 2026
Produced through his Loser Films shingle, the film is about a group of small-town amateur stuntmen whose days revolve around drinking, antagonizing their community, and filming crude, Jackass-style stunts.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for antagonize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for antagonize
Verb
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That this stalemate has dragged on this long has infuriated Levin, who considers keeping the government functioning a basic tenet of Congress’s job.—
Paula Mejía,
New Yorker,
15 Apr. 2026
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The gap between what Greg and I did—and, more importantly, thought about—became a gigantic infuriating cavern for me.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Orbán had vetoed the bill after initially agreeing to it, enraging EU officials and counterparts across the 27-nation bloc.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
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The pope’s firm stance has enraged the president.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Separate blockades from haulers and farmers angered by the rising diesel prices have also shut down large swathes of the country’s highways, causing five days of disruption.—
Dalia Abdelwahab,
CNN Money,
11 Apr. 2026
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The mayor's threat to raise property taxes unless Albany agrees to tax the rich angered City Council Speaker Julie Menin.—
Marcia Kramer,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Alito came out a winner, but still embittered.—
Peter S. Canellos,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Antagonize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/antagonize. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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