antagonism

[ an-tag-uh-niz-uhm ]
/ ænˈtæg əˌnɪz əm /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR antagonism ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

an active hostility or opposition, as between unfriendly or conflicting groups: the antagonism between the liberal and the conservative parties.
an opposing force, principle, or tendency: Her plan to become an actress met with the antagonism of her family.
Physiology. an opposing action, as by one muscle in relation to another.
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).
Ecology.
  1. a relationship between two species of organisms in which the individuals of each species adversely affect the other, as in competition.
  2. 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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Origin of antagonism

1835–40; (< French antagonisme) < Greek antagṓnisma. See antagonize, -ism

OTHER WORDS FROM antagonism

in·ter·an·tag·o·nism, noun

Words nearby antagonism

ant., anta, antabuse, antacid, antaeus, antagonism, antagonist, antagonistic, antagonistic muscles, antagonize, antagonizer
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to antagonism

discord, enmity, hostility, disagreement, resistance, friction, rancor, animus, antipathy, hatred, dissension, rivalry, animosity, contention, contradistinction, antithesis, incongruity, competition, contrariety, difference

Example sentences from the Web for antagonism

British Dictionary definitions for antagonism

antagonism
/ (ænˈtæɡəˌnɪzəm) /

noun

openly expressed and usually mutual opposition
the inhibiting or nullifying action of one substance or organism on another
physiol the normal opposition between certain muscles
biology the inhibition or interference of growth of one kind of organism by another
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for antagonism

antagonism
[ ăn-tăg′ə-nĭz′əm ]

n.

Mutual opposition in action between structures, agents, diseases, or physiological processes.mutual resistance
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.