antagonize

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ænˈtæɡəˌnaɪz/ UK /ænˈtæɡəˌnaɪz/ See IPA manual

verb

Meanings

1

verb
to provoke hostility in someone

His tactless remarks only antagonized the committee.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to provoke hostility in... provoke alienate irritate embitter anger oppose

Opposites

appease pacify placate conciliate

Word family

Derived forms antagonizerantagonization

Related forms antagonist antagonism antagonistic

Etymology

From Greek antagōnizesthai ('to struggle against'), from anti- ('against') + agōnizesthai ('to contend'), from agōn ('contest').

antagōnízesthai Ancient Greek agṓn Ancient Greek

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes Word Formation & Derivatives

# antagonize

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** ænˈtæɡəˌnaɪz
**IPA (UK):** ænˈtæɡəˌnaɪz

## Meanings
1. to provoke hostility in someone

## Examples
- His tactless remarks only antagonized the committee.

## Synonyms
- provoke
- alienate
- irritate
- embitter
- anger
- oppose

## Antonyms
- appease
- pacify
- placate
- conciliate

## Derived Forms
- antagonizer
- antagonization

## Related Forms
- antagonist
- antagonism
- antagonistic

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: antagōnízesthai
- Root: agṓn

## Etymology
From Greek antagōnizesthai ('to struggle against'), from anti- ('against') + agōnizesthai ('to contend'), from agōn ('contest').

## AI Etymology
Antagonize is from Greek antagōnizesthai ('to struggle against'), from anti- ('against') + agōnizesthai ('to contend'), from agōn ('contest'). In present-day use, it means to provoke hostility in someone. Derived formations include antagonizer and antagonization. Related vocabulary includes antagonist, antagonism, and antagonistic.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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antagonize

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