as in provoking
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as in angering
to implant bitter feelings in
everything he said just antagonized the other side even more
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Recent Examples of antagonizing
Preston Fore, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2025
The president could always pursue a consensus solution to America’s immigration problem through Congress rather than antagonizing our communities with blunt force and unconstitutional military deployments.
—Newsweek Contributors, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Rivers, in a Facebook post, accused Antao of inciting the attack by antagonizing her.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 27 Sep. 2025
And Massie is nearing victory on a months-long quest to force a vote on releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files, antagonizing the White House.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 25 Sep. 2025
And by the demands of working with Shia LaBeouf, whose method hinges upon antagonizing his director at every turn.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2025
Despite their stauncher backing for Kyiv, European leaders also appear wary of antagonizing the president, while still defending Ukraine's demands for a ceasefire, security guarantees and its territorial integrity.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 21 Aug. 2025
So far, Ukrainian officials and European allies have tried to tread carefully to avoid antagonizing Trump.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 15 Aug. 2025
Attendees were roughly split between supporting and antagonizing Walton.
—Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
Sliwa warned both were taking the wrong approach by antagonizing the president.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2025
The president could always pursue a consensus solution to America’s immigration problem through Congress rather than antagonizing our communities with blunt force and unconstitutional military deployments.
—Newsweek Contributors, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Rivers, in a Facebook post, accused Antao of inciting the attack by antagonizing her.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 27 Sep. 2025
And Massie is nearing victory on a months-long quest to force a vote on releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files, antagonizing the White House.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 25 Sep. 2025
And by the demands of working with Shia LaBeouf, whose method hinges upon antagonizing his director at every turn.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2025
Despite their stauncher backing for Kyiv, European leaders also appear wary of antagonizing the president, while still defending Ukraine's demands for a ceasefire, security guarantees and its territorial integrity.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 21 Aug. 2025
So far, Ukrainian officials and European allies have tried to tread carefully to avoid antagonizing Trump.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 15 Aug. 2025
Attendees were roughly split between supporting and antagonizing Walton.
—Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for antagonizing
Adjective
-
The characterizations are complex and thought-provoking, and the descriptions of the natural world put the reader right there.—
The Know,
Denver Post,
7 Dec. 2025
-
The 2024 three-part docuseries American Nightmare dives headfirst into several thought-provoking issues, like victim blaming and the glaring inadequacies in the criminal justice system.—
James Mercadante,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The board instead approved a resolution to reexamine current campus spaces, angering some parents.—
Imani Cruzen,
Twin Cities,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Meanwhile another son, Eduardo, lobbied US officials to impose tariffs on Brazil in response to the verdict, angering many back home.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
29 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
According to court filings, the state is seeking the death penalty for both men, citing multiple aggravating factors.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Mears said the victim's age, 69, could be considered an aggravating factor and might lead to a tougher punishment if Sanchez is convicted.—
David K. Li,
NBC news,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Cramped, about living with debilitating period pain, is funny, educational, and at times enraging.—
Benjamin Cannon,
The Atlantic,
23 Dec. 2025
-
Paul’s antics are enraging, a bit funny, and a perfect encapsulation of the Chris Paul experience.—
Hanif Abdurraqib,
New Yorker,
11 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
In addition to her injury, Masters also suffers from hypothyroidism, which occurs when the thyroid gland doesn't make and release enough thyroid hormone in the bloodstream, as well as Lyme disease, an inflammatory illness usually caused by an infected tick bite.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Ye’s inflammatory remarks resulted in corporations such as Universal Music Group, Balenciaga, Gap and Adidas cutting ties with him.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The implications are infuriating.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The hosts’ stand-in captain was at his eccentric best, infuriating bowlers and fielders alike.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Meynecke said his footage suggested the whales found their hangers-on annoying.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Thankfully, the best faux garlands offer the look and oftentimes feel of the real thing without the sticky sap or annoying cleanup.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Add it all up, and this season was more of an exasperating shortfall than a stumble — even if some stunning scoring droughts and recklessness on the basepaths conjured that feeling at times.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Its central character, Chevy Chase's Clark W. Griswold, is a dopey dad trying to keep it together amid an escalating series of exasperating frustrations and ignoble temptations.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Antagonizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/antagonizing. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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