antagonism

[ an-tag-uh-niz-uhm ]
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noun
  1. an active hostility or opposition, as between unfriendly or conflicting groups: the antagonism between the liberal and the conservative parties.

  2. an opposing force, principle, or tendency: Her plan to become an actress met with the antagonism of her family.

  1. Physiology. an opposing action, as by one muscle in relation to another.

  2. Biochemistry, Pharmacology. the opposing action of substances, as drugs, that when taken together decrease the effectiveness of at least one of them (contrasted with synergism).

  3. Ecology.

    • a relationship between two species of organisms in which the individuals of each species adversely affect the other, as in competition.

    • the inhibition of the growth of one type of organism by a different type that is competing for the same ecological niche.

Origin of antagonism

1
First recorded in 1835–40; from French antagonisme, from Greek antagṓnisma; see antagonize, -ism

Other words for antagonism

Other words from antagonism

  • in·ter·an·tag·o·nism, noun

Words Nearby antagonism

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use antagonism in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for antagonism

antagonism

/ (ænˈtæɡəˌnɪzəm) /


noun
  1. openly expressed and usually mutual opposition

  2. the inhibiting or nullifying action of one substance or organism on another

  1. physiol the normal opposition between certain muscles

  2. biology the inhibition or interference of growth of one kind of organism by another

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