antagonistic

[an-tag-uh-nis-tik]

adjective

1. acting in opposition; opposing, especially mutually.

2. hostile; unfriendly.

Other Word Forms

• antagonistically adverb
• nonantagonistic adjective
• nonantagonistically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of antagonistic¹

First recorded in 1625–35; antagonist + -ic

Example Sentences

This was confirmed when Egypt traded in its limited success to come over to the American side, but Syria remained stubbornly antagonistic.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Ireland is the most antagonistic country to Israel in the Western world.

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According to Nishimura, "These findings reveal that the same stem cell population can follow antagonistic fates -- exhaustion or expansion -- depending on the type of stress and microenvironmental signals."

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Danny and Lena, the show’s main characters, find themselves unofficial partners in the two episodes out for review, as they go from antagonistic to affectionate.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

They’ve been antagonistic, and it felt like a beautiful moment of female friendship and blossoming and this incredible Gaga song was just like the icing on the cake.

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Related Words

• combative 
• hostile 
• inimical 
• unfriendly