antagonize
to make hostile or unfriendly; make an enemy or antagonist of: His speech antagonized many voters.
to act in opposition to; oppose.
Origin of antagonize
1- 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) ChampneyBut 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 BuchanWhatever 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 AthertonIt was not my purpose to further antagonise the Spaniard; at the outset at any rate.
The Mystery of the Sea | Bram Stoker
British Dictionary definitions for antagonize
antagonise
/ (ænˈtæɡəˌnaɪz) /
to make hostile; annoy or irritate
to act in opposition to or counteract
Origin of antagonize
1Derived 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
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