antagonize
Americanverb (used with object)
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to make hostile or unfriendly; make an enemy or antagonist of.
His speech antagonized many voters.
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to act in opposition to; oppose.
verb (used without object)
verb
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to make hostile; annoy or irritate
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to act in opposition to or counteract
Other Word Forms
- antagonizable adjective
- antagonization noun
- reantagonize verb (used with object)
- unantagonizable adjective
- unantagonized adjective
- unantagonizing adjective
- unantagonizingly adverb
Etymology
Origin of antagonize
First recorded in 1625–35, antagonize is from the Greek word antagōnízesthai to contend against, dispute with. See ant-, agonize
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.
Why would he show up and antagonize the justices?
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026
Which prompts the question: Why would companies that in theory couldn’t afford to antagonize their customers take this tack anyway?
From Slate • Aug. 4, 2025
Of course, any American has the right to criticize judges but defendants usually don't do it because generally it's a bad idea to unnecessarily antagonize someone who has such power over your life.
From Salon • Mar. 19, 2025
De León “continues to criminalize our unhoused neighbors and antagonize certain groups that are providing necessary support,” she said.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 1, 2024
I'll just have to be careful not to antagonize anyone.
From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison
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.
