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

Democracy will survive in an era of extraordinary fortunes not by antagonizing successful people but by making political power harder to buy. — Daniel Waldenstrom, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2026

Davidson is even calm when talking about Kardashian’s ex-husband Ye, who once wrote a song antagonizing Davidson. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2026

And at a moment when the US is antagonizing allies and has yet to find a way to end its war on Iran that’s destabilizing the global economy, Xi has been burnishing China’s image as a responsible and dependable global leader. — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2026

India, the host, wants the summit to accomplish as much as possible without antagonizing the United States. — Ian Bremmer, Time, 11 Sep. 2026

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

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