Synonyms of antagonizing

antagonizing 1 of 2

adjective

as in provoking

Related Words

• provoking
• aggravating
• inflammatory
• annoying
• exasperating
• irritating
• frustrating
• abrasive
• provocative
• maddening
• irksome
• nagging
• vexing
• riling
• belligerent
• confrontational
• antagonistic
• combative
• offensive
• nettling
• bellicose
• rankling
• galling
• pugnacious
• nettlesome
• hostile
• aggressive
• agonistic
• assertive
• chafing
• quarrelsome
• inhospitable
• argumentative
• contentious
• inimical
• truculent
• antipathetic
• scrappy
• unfriendly
• military
• warlike
• infuriating
• militaristic
• engaging
• militant
• unsympathetic
• incensing
• martial

Dissimilar Words

• conciliatory
• disarming
• pacific
• placatory
• propitiatory
• winning
• ingratiating
• appeasing
• endearing
• placating
• pacifying
• mollifying
• conciliating
• peacemaking
• winsome
• peaceable
• peaceful

antagonizing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of antagonize

as in angering

to implant bitter feelings in

everything he said just antagonized the other side even more

Synonyms & Similar Words

• angering
• enraging
• infuriating
• embittering
• aggravating
• envenoming
• souring
• incensing
• empoisoning
• alienating
• estranging
• maddening
• setting (against)
• disaffecting
• curdling
• disgruntling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ingratiating
• appeasing
• endearing
• pacifying
• placating
• mollifying
• sweetening
• assuaging
• propitiating

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of antagonizing

Verb

While the competition ignited the box office in a world-class example of counterprogramming, the move was seen as baiting and antagonizing the director. — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 21 July 2026

The thing is Georgia wasn’t antagonizing her (and Ariana tells her as much). — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 16 July 2026

Wilson, played by understudy Merrill Peiffer on opening night, recurs as a comedic yet antagonizing force throughout the show, making a years-long series of excuses for not promoting women’s suffrage. — Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2026

Hathaway’s style of play — gritty, aggressive, antagonizing — fits the mold that those former teammates have carried over to Florida. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 29 June 2026

On Monday against the Phoenix Mercury, Clark spent the game peeved at the officials and picked up her fifth technical after clapping in an antagonizing manner toward a rival. — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 27 June 2026

Trump first began antagonizing Senate Republicans last month by endorsing challenges to two of their own incumbents. — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 24 June 2026

Investor Michael Burry—of Big Short fame—considered antagonizing the richest man on the planet over the IPO of his latest company. — Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 17 June 2026

Dalton Eatherly, 28, is known in Clarksville for deliberately antagonizing people on camera and also faces theft and disorderly conduct charges from a separate incident. — Kristin M. Hall, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026