English

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Etymology

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From antagonist +‎ -ic.

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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antagonistic (comparative more antagonistic, superlative most antagonistic)

  1. Contending or acting against.
    Synonyms: see Thesaurus:combative
    • 1855, Henry Hart Milman, History of Latin Christianity[1]:
      They were distinct, adverse, even antagonistic.
    • 1866, American Journal of Pharmacy and the Sciences Supporting Public Health:
      Though the tephrosia is a powerful agent, and, if carried too far beyond the antagonistic action of the poison, is, I presume, not entirely without danger, I have never known any bad symptoms to arise from its use.
    • 2002, Barry Ames, The Deadlock of Democracy in Brazil, page 171:
      And deputies from opposing parties, inherently more antagonistic than deputies from the same party, can be bought at a lower price.
    • 2023 May 16, Cecilia Kang, “OpenAI’s Sam Altman Urges A.I. Regulation in Senate Hearing”, in The New York Times[2], →ISSN:
      The tone of congressional hearings involving tech industry executives in recent years can best be described as antagonistic.
  2. (biochemistry) Relating to an antagonist.

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