antagonize

verb

an·​tag·​o·​nize an-ˈta-gə-ˌnīz 

antagonized; antagonizing

transitive verb

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

Synonyms

• embitter
• empoison
• envenom

Examples of antagonize in a Sentence

He didn't mean to antagonize you.

Her comments antagonized many people.

Recent Examples on the Web

Introduce just enough controversy to get the message remembered and discussed among friends, without antagonizing anyone. —Martin Zwilling, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024

But Perón’s efforts to curb the political influence of the Catholic Church antagonized the military, and in September 1955 Perón was deposed in a coup and forced into exile. —Joshua Hammer, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Dec. 2024

Playing it safe by not antagonizing the Jewish bloc and relying on an Arab-Muslim aversion to former President Donald Trump, is a fraught strategy. —Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024

Carrington has a history of antagonizing Clark and her fans in the past. —Ryan Morik, Fox News, 11 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Greek antagōnizesthai, from anti- + agōnizesthai to struggle, from agōn contest — more at agony

First Known Use

circa 1742, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids 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

an-ˈtag-ə-ˌnīz 

antagonized also British antagonised; antagonizing also British antagonising

: to act in antagonism to : counteract

these effects are antagonized by atropine

—Ernest Bueding & Harry Most