agonist

American  

[ag-uh-nist] / ˈæg ə nɪst /

noun

1. a person engaged in a contest, conflict, struggle, etc., especially the protagonist in a literary work.

2. a person who is torn by inner conflict.

3. Physiology. a contracting muscle whose action is opposed by another muscle.

4. Pharmacology. a chemical substance capable of activating a receptor to induce a full or partial pharmacological response.

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agonist British  

/ ˈæɡənɪst /

noun

1. any muscle that is opposed in action by another muscle Compare antagonist

2. a competitor, as in an agon

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agonist Scientific  

/ ăg′ə-nĭst /

1. A muscle that actively contracts to produce a desired movement.

2. A chemical substance, especially a drug, that can combine with a receptor on a cell to produce a physiologic response.

3. Compare antagonist

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Etymology

Origin of agonist

First recorded in 1620–30; from Late Latin agōnista, from Greek agōnistḗs “contestant,” equivalent to agṓn agon + -istēs -ist

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

agonist

GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs have transformed obesity treatment by helping patients lose substantial amounts of weight.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 11, 2026

They used activity involving this gene as an indicator of GLP-1 agonist activity.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 13, 2026

It also moved a triple agonist similar to retatrutide into Phase 2 trials this year.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 5, 2026

Meanwhile, the march of the GLP-1 agonist wonder drugs continues.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 21, 2026

Reproach she looks, about, above, Denied her light, denied her love, Denied for what she sacrificed, Doomed to be fruitless agonist.

From Helen Redeemed and Other Poems by Maurice Henry Hewlett

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