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

If one of these ladies had knowingly invited her ex-husband just to antagonize her, all bets would’ve been off. —Shelby Stewart, Essence, 24 Feb. 2025

The anti-Ukraine influencers and advisers in Trump’s ear contend that Ukraine antagonized Russia by seeking to join the Atlantic Alliance. —The Editors, National Review, 20 Feb. 2025

But in practice, those processes, Dobbin says, tend to antagonize people in management, especially white men. —Abdallah Fayyad, Vox, 18 Feb. 2025

Despite this, European leaders—for fear of antagonizing Beijing—still put short-term investments ahead of their long-term interests. —David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Feb. 2025

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

Rhymes for antagonize

• actualize
• apologise
• apologize
• capitalize
• categorize
• characterize
• commercialize
• conceptualize
• contrariwise
• criminalize
• decentralize
• democratize

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