agonistic

[ ag-uh-nis-tik ]

adjective

1. combative; striving to overcome in argument.
2. straining for effect:

   agonistic humor.

3. of or relating to ancient Greek athletic contests.
4. Ethology. pertaining to the range of activities associated with aggressive encounters between members of the same species, including threat, attack, appeasement, or retreat.

agonistic

/ ˌæɡəˈnɪstɪk /

adjective

1. striving for effect; strained
2. eager to win in discussion or argument; competitive

Other Words From

• ago·nisti·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of agonistic¹

1640–50; < Greek agōnistikós, equivalent to agōnist ( ḗs ) agonist + -ikos -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of agonistic¹

C17: via Late Latin from Greek agōnistikos, from agōn contest

Example Sentences

These vocalisations were of the affiliative type, i.e. linked to a positive interaction, or of the agonistic type, i.e. linked to a threat or distress.

From Science Daily

About 31 percent of Latino Democrats are not religiously affiliated, which includes those that identify as atheist, agonistic or “nothing in particular,” while 27 percent of Latino Republicans are unaffiliated.

From Washington Post

"When we looked at this factor that we called agonistic threshold, which included a lot of questions about whether people's dogs reacted aggressively to things, we weren't seeing an effective breed ancestry," Karlsson said.

From Salon

During this period, the scientists also tracked more than 70 agonistic interactions between individuals, establishing Priscilla as the least dominant female.

From Scientific American

James Madison’s vision of constitutional checks and balances, of divided powers in equilibrium, is agonistic politics in action.

From The New Yorker