antagonistic
adjective
an·tag·o·nis·tic
(ˌ)an-ˌta-gə-ˈni-stik 
: showing dislike or opposition : marked by or resulting from antagonism
an antagonistic relationship
factions antagonistic to one another
Synonyms
Examples of antagonistic in a Sentence
They found it impossible to deal with such antagonistic groups.
countries that have been antagonistic towards each other for centuries
Recent Examples on the Web
Acosta had a famously antagonistic relationship with Donald Trump during the President’s first term in office.
—
Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 28 Jan. 2025
The antagonistic bills’ timing couldn’t be worse, one Republican argued, given the ongoing catastrophic wildfires in the Los Angeles area which have already destroyed thousands of homes.
—Jenavieve Hatch, Sacramento Bee, 24 Jan. 2025
The two leaders have had an antagonistic relationship at times.
—Jesus Jiménez, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
That could be an important skill in Miami-Dade, the county with perhaps the most to lose as seas rise, within a state and federal government who are resistant — if not antagonistic — to climate action.
—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 23 Jan. 2025
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Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 28 Jan. 2025
The antagonistic bills’ timing couldn’t be worse, one Republican argued, given the ongoing catastrophic wildfires in the Los Angeles area which have already destroyed thousands of homes.
—Jenavieve Hatch, Sacramento Bee, 24 Jan. 2025
The two leaders have had an antagonistic relationship at times.
—Jesus Jiménez, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
That could be an important skill in Miami-Dade, the county with perhaps the most to lose as seas rise, within a state and federal government who are resistant — if not antagonistic — to climate action.
—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for antagonistic
Dictionary Entries Near antagonistic
Cite this Entry
“Antagonistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/antagonistic. Accessed 5 Feb. 2025.
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Medical Definition
antagonistic
adjective
an·tag·o·nis·tic
(ˌ)an-ˌtag-ə-ˈnis-tik
1
: characterized by or resulting from antagonism
antagonistic antibiotics
2
: relating to or being muscles that are antagonists
skeletal muscles arranged in antagonistic pairs
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