antagonize
verb
an·tag·o·nize
an-ˈta-gə-ˌnīz 
antagonized; antagonizing
1
: to incur or provoke the hostility of
His criticism antagonized his friends.
2
: to act in opposition to : counteract
The drug is antagonized by methylxanthines, such as caffeine and theophylline …—
Scientific American Medicine
Scientific American Medicine
Examples of antagonize in a Sentence
He didn't mean to antagonize you.
Her comments antagonized many people.
Recent Examples on the Web
Emboldened by its military successes since late 2023, and led by a politically beleaguered prime minister with multiple court cases hanging over his head, the Israeli government is unlikely to stop its campaign to try and antagonize the Iranian octopus.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 26 Dec. 2024
That currency is pegged to the U.S. dollar and therefore reliably stable—unless the President of the United States starts antagonizing China by threatening to decouple the HKD, as then-President Trump did later that month.
—Josh Condon, Robb Report, 8 Dec. 2024
Our investment is fostered especially through Pansy’s scenes with her younger sister, Chantelle, the only person neither scared off nor antagonized by her spikiness.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Dec. 2024
The new course Marcos charted for the Philippines broke from that of Duterte, who built close ties with China and Russia and antagonized the United States, though Duterte maintained warm ties with then-President Trump.
—Jim Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 26 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for antagonize 
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Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 26 Dec. 2024
That currency is pegged to the U.S. dollar and therefore reliably stable—unless the President of the United States starts antagonizing China by threatening to decouple the HKD, as then-President Trump did later that month.
—Josh Condon, Robb Report, 8 Dec. 2024
Our investment is fostered especially through Pansy’s scenes with her younger sister, Chantelle, the only person neither scared off nor antagonized by her spikiness.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Dec. 2024
The new course Marcos charted for the Philippines broke from that of Duterte, who built close ties with China and Russia and antagonized the United States, though Duterte maintained warm ties with then-President Trump.
—Jim Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 26 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for antagonize
Dictionary Entries Near antagonize
Cite this Entry
“Antagonize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/antagonize. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
antagonize
verb
an·tag·o·nize
an-ˈtag-ə-ˌnīz
antagonized; antagonizing
: to stir up dislike or anger in
Medical Definition
antagonize
transitive verb
an·tag·o·nize
variants
also British antagonise
antagonized also British antagonised; antagonizing also British antagonising
: to act in antagonism to : counteract
these effects are antagonized by atropine—Ernest Bueding & Harry Most
Ernest Bueding & Harry MostLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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