antagonize

[ an-tag-uh-nahyz ]
See synonyms for: antagonizeantagonizedantagonization on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),an·tag·o·nized, an·tag·o·niz·ing.
  1. to make hostile or unfriendly; make an enemy or antagonist of: His speech antagonized many voters.

  2. to act in opposition to; oppose.

verb (used without object),an·tag·o·nized, an·tag·o·niz·ing.
  1. Rare. to act antagonistically.

Origin of antagonize

1
First recorded in 1625–35, antagonize is from the Greek word antagōnízesthai to contend against, dispute with. See ant-, agonize
  • Also especially British, an·tag·o·nise .

Other words from antagonize

  • an·tag·o·niz·a·ble, adjective
  • an·tag·o·ni·za·tion, noun
  • re·an·tag·o·nize, verb (used with object), re·an·tag·o·nized, re·an·tag·o·niz·ing.
  • un·an·tag·o·niz·a·ble, adjective
  • un·an·tag·o·nized, adjective
  • un·an·tag·o·niz·ing, adjective
  • un·an·tag·o·niz·ing·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use antagonize in a sentence

  • It might strike a wiser man in your situation that it would be worth while not to antagonise a friend who has come to serve you.

    Romance of Roman Villas | Elizabeth W. (Elizbeth Williams) Champney
  • But he was careful not to agitate and antagonise those whose coperation was necessary to success.

    The Great God Success | John Graham (David Graham Phillips)
  • The plea against death was that it would antagonise three-fourths of England, and make a martyr out of a fool.

    The Path of the King | John Buchan
  • Whatever the faults of the deceased, they were not of a nature to antagonise permanently the erring members of his own sex.

    Mrs. Balfame | Gertrude Franklin Horn Atherton
  • It was not my purpose to further antagonise the Spaniard; at the outset at any rate.

British Dictionary definitions for antagonize

antagonize

antagonise

/ (ænˈtæɡəˌnaɪz) /


verb(tr)
  1. to make hostile; annoy or irritate

  2. to act in opposition to or counteract

Origin of antagonize

1
C17: from Greek antagōnizesthai, from anti- + agōnizesthai to strive, from agōn contest

Derived forms of antagonize

  • antagonizable or antagonisable, adjective
  • antagonization or antagonisation, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012