Antigone

American  

[an-tig-uh-nee] / ænˈtɪg əˌni /

noun

1. Classical Mythology. a daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta who defied her uncle, King Creon, by performing funeral rites over her brother, Polynices, and was condemned to be immured alive in a cave.

2. (italics) a tragedy (c440 b.c.) by Sophocles.

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Antigone British  

/ ænˈtɪɡənɪ /

noun

1. Greek myth daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta, who was condemned to death for cremating the body of her brother Polynices in defiance of an edict of her uncle, King Creon of Thebes

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Antigone ¹ Cultural  

1. In classical mythology, a daughter of King Oedipus. Her two brothers killed each other in single combat over the kingship of their city. Although burial or cremation of the dead was a religious obligation among the Greeks, the king forbade the burial of one of the brothers, for he was considered a traitor. Antigone, torn between her religious and legal obligations, disobeyed the king's order and buried her brother. She was then condemned to death for her crime.

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Antigone ² Cultural  

1. A tragedy by Sophocles. It concerns the punishment of Antigone for burying her brother, an act that was forbidden because he had rebelled against his own city. Antigone argues that the burial is required by divine law as opposed to human law.

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Discover More

The Greek playwright Sophocles tells her story in Antigone, a play that deals with the conflict between human laws and the laws of the gods.

Compare meaning

How does antigone compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Antigone vs. Creon

Example Sentences

Nevertheless the affection Antigone shows for him has a tenderness she rarely allows others to see.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026

He cannot bear the idea that his “favorite niece,” as Antigone calls herself, would violate his laws—or is it that he cannot bear the idea of having imposed laws that threaten her life?

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026

Reid’s Merope and Reis’ Antigone, ferocious in their different ways, refuse to play second fiddle to Manville’s Jocasta when it comes to Oedipus’ affections.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 13, 2025

No Athenian woman would have believed she had the freedom to rage at the male head of household and disobey his orders as Antigone did.

From Salon • Feb. 25, 2024

He hurried out to be confronted with the guards he had set on the dead body and with Antigone.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton