antagonism
Americannoun
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an active hostility or opposition, as between unfriendly or conflicting groups.
the antagonism between the liberal and the conservative parties.
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an opposing force, principle, or tendency.
Her plan to become an actress met with the antagonism of her family.
- Synonyms:
- animosity
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Physiology. an opposing action, as by one muscle in relation to another.
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Biochemistry, Pharmacology. the opposing action of substances, as drugs, that when taken together decrease the effectiveness of at least one of them (contrasted with synergism).
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Ecology.
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a relationship between two species of organisms in which the individuals of each species adversely affect the other, as in competition.
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the inhibition of the growth of one type of organism by a different type that is competing for the same ecological niche.
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noun
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openly expressed and usually mutual opposition
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the inhibiting or nullifying action of one substance or organism on another
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physiol the normal opposition between certain muscles
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biology the inhibition or interference of growth of one kind of organism by another
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of antagonism
First recorded in 1835–40; from French antagonisme, from Greek antagṓnisma; see antagonize, -ism
Explanation
Antagonism means hostility. You might feel antagonism toward your annoying little sister, particularly if she's always borrowing your stuff without asking. Antagonism is one of the few things you can share easily with someone you don't like. You might feel antagonism toward your school, or at least the idea of going to school. If you're an antagonistic person, you feel antagonism to lots of people and things.
Vocabulary lists containing antagonism
100 SAT Words Beginning with "A"
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Grade 9, List 5
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myPerspectives 6.1
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Prince’s shocking death in 2016 gave writers a reason to unearth the shady details of his antagonism toward Michael Jackson.
From Salon • May 16, 2026
"A youth movement will be more effective when internal divisions are minimal, there is ideological plurality without antagonism, and there are few established parties that can easily hijack the movement's results."
From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026
The sisters’ mutual antagonism has a few clever beats, like when they bicker over who had the superior working-class restaurant job, Grace waiting tables or Faith as a hostess.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026
The definitive bands working in the style took the loud and rude antagonism of punk and integrated forms outside of rock, incorporating the bass-forward presentation of reggae and the abstraction of art-rock.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 6, 2026
Aunt Addie was the only teacher and from the first day an acute, bitter antagonism sprang up between us.
From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
