Synonym Chooser

How does the noun antagonism differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of antagonism are animosity, animus, antipathy, enmity, hostility, and rancor. While all these words mean "deep-seated dislike or ill will," antipathy and antagonism imply a natural or logical basis for one's hatred or dislike, antipathy suggesting repugnance, a desire to avoid or reject, and antagonism suggesting a clash of temperaments leading readily to hostility.

a natural antipathy for self-seekers
antagonism between the brothers

When is animosity a more appropriate choice than antagonism?

The words animosity and antagonism can be used in similar contexts, but animosity suggests intense ill will and vindictiveness that threaten to kindle hostility.

animosity that led to revenge

In what contexts can animus take the place of antagonism?

While the synonyms animus and antagonism are close in meaning, animus adds to animosity the implication of strong prejudice.

objections devoid of personal animus

When could enmity be used to replace antagonism?

While in some cases nearly identical to antagonism, enmity suggests positive hatred which may be open or concealed.

an unspoken enmity

Where would hostility be a reasonable alternative to antagonism?

Although the words hostility and antagonism have much in common, hostility suggests an enmity showing itself in attacks or aggression.

hostility between the two nations

When would rancor be a good substitute for antagonism?

The meanings of rancor and antagonism largely overlap; however, rancor is especially applied to bitter brooding over a wrong.

rancor filled every line of his letters

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of antagonism But the general antagonism, though especially intense at Princeton, was not unique to the university. Alice Gregory, The New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2024 The weirdness of her initial antagonism with Glinda, and later her subservient role with crippled half sister Nessarose (Marissa Bode) — one of the film’s many minority-group tokens — exposes the gimmick of ethnic patronization. Armond White, National Review, 27 Nov. 2024 Djokovic has made an art out of defying hostile crowds, thriving on the antagonism. Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 13 July 2024 Fear, the emotion that predominates in Le Corbeau, seems familiar — lingering from the tyrannical Covid lockdowns, Stasi-like doxxing, denunciations, and the social antagonism endured through political partisanship. Armond White, National Review, 20 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for antagonism 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for antagonism
Noun
  • The Jordanian government announced the closure of the crossing amid the hostility.
    Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 6 Dec. 2024
  • TikTok has long denied having any links to the Chinese government, and the federal government has not made public any of the specific intelligence it’s used to justify its hostility against the company.
    Alison Durkee, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Ravens, magpies and even common urban crows have demonstrated impressive feats of intelligence, from using traffic lights to crack nuts to remembering human faces and even holding grudges.
    Scott Travers, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024
  • Both are brazenly transactional, and cling tenaciously to grudges.
    Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • All of the hatred and violence of their relationship all culminated in this moment.
    Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Dec. 2024
  • The promise comes several days after a man accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson said he was motivated by hatred of that system ‒ a hatred apparently shared by many people who have taken to social media in the days since the Dec. 4 killing.
    Phaedra Trethan, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near antagonism

Cite this Entry

“Antagonism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/antagonism. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on antagonism

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