Antagonize — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /an-ˈta-gə-ˌnīz/ an·tag·o·nize

Meaning & Definition of Antagonize

Antagonize (verb)

  1. to incur or provoke the hostility of
  2. to act in opposition to, counteract

Antagonize (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to implant bitter feelings in

    "everything he said just antagonized the other side even more"

    similar: embitter, empoison, envenom
    related: aggravate, anger, enrage, incense, infuriate, madden, alienate, disaffect, disgruntle, estrange, set (against), curdle, sour
    near: endear, ingratiate, appease, assuage, mollify, pacify, placate, propitiate, sweeten

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Antagonize

The most common words with a similar meaning to Antagonize:

embitter, empoison, envenom

Related Words for Antagonize

aggravate, anger, enrage, incense, infuriate, madden, alienate, disaffect, disgruntle, estrange, set (against), curdle, sour

Near Antonyms of Antagonize

endear, ingratiate, appease, assuage, mollify, pacify, placate, propitiate, sweeten

Word Forms of Antagonize

Inflections: antagonized, antagonizing

Origin & Etymology of Antagonize

Greek antagōnizesthai, from anti- + agōnizesthai to struggle, from agōn contest agony

First known use: circa 1742

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Antagonize

Frequently Asked Questions about Antagonize

What does "Antagonize" mean?

"Antagonize" means to incur or provoke the hostility of. As a verb, it is defined as: to incur or provoke the hostility of.

What is another word for "Antagonize"?

Other words for "Antagonize" include embitter, empoison and envenom. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Antagonize" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Antagonize"?

There are 16 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Antagonize". Common alternatives include embitter, empoison and envenom.

How do you use "Antagonize" in a sentence?

Examples of "Antagonize" in a sentence: "everything he said just antagonized the other side even more".

Is "Antagonize" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Antagonize" is a verb.

Is "Antagonize" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Antagonize" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Antagonize"?

"Antagonize" is pronounced /an-ˈta-gə-ˌnīz/ and divided into syllables as an·tag·o·nize.

What is the origin of the word "Antagonize"?

"Antagonize" comes from Greek antagōnizesthai, from anti- + agōnizesthai to struggle, from agōn contest agony. First known use: circa 1742.