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View synonyms for antagonize

antagonize

[ an-tag-uh-nahyz ]

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.

antagonize

/ ænˈtæɡəˌnaɪz /

verb

  1. to make hostile; annoy or irritate
  2. to act in opposition to or counteract
“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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Derived Forms

  • anˈtagoˌnizable, adjective
  • anˌtagoniˈzation, noun
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Other Words From

  • an·tago·niza·ble adjective
  • an·tago·ni·zation noun
  • rean·tago·nize verb (used with object) reantagonized reantagonizing
  • 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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of antagonize1

First recorded in 1625–35, antagonize is from the Greek word antagōnízesthai to contend against, dispute with. See ant-, agonize
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Word History and Origins

Origin of antagonize1

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

There is more willingness to embrace the youth vote, rather than antagonize it, as far as campaign strategy goes.

From Slate

Rep. Matt Gaetz suggested that it doesn’t matter if Republicans antagonize female voters because they can be replaced by male voters.

That was a sharp turnaround from his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte, who feared that a larger American military footprint could antagonize Beijing.

Knowing how Trump thinks — and assuming everyone else thinks the same way — he no doubt believes that it wouldn't be wise to antagonize this man with whom he once conspired to destroy people's reputations.

From Salon

“When we are fighting for our survival, we can’t afford to antagonize either Biden or Trump,” Mr. Merezhko said.

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