noun
antagonism
an-TA-guh-nih-zuhm
Antagonism (noun) means a strong feeling of hostility or opposition toward someone or something. Example: “There was clear antagonism between the two rival coaches.”
noun
1
A strong feeling of hostility or opposition toward someone or something.
"There was clear antagonism between the two rival coaches."
"Years of antagonism between the neighbours finally boiled over."
How to use antagonism
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOpen hostility or a strong dislike between people or groups.
Common pairings
mutual antagonism
source of antagonism
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like antagonism.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- antagonisms
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
There was clear _____ between the two rival coaches.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek antagonistes ("opponent"), from antagonizomai ("to struggle against"), related to agon, "contest."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for antagonism
See all rhymes for antagonism →Frequently asked questions
What does “antagonism” mean?
The word “antagonism” means a strong feeling of hostility or opposition toward someone or something. In plain terms, open hostility or a strong dislike between people or groups.
How do you pronounce “antagonism”?
“Antagonism” is pronounced an-TA-guh-nih-zuhm (/ænˈtæɡənɪzəm/ in IPA).
How do you use “antagonism” in a sentence?
Here is “antagonism” used in a sentence: “There was clear antagonism between the two rival coaches.”
What part of speech is “antagonism”?
“Antagonism” is a noun.
Where does the word “antagonism” come from?
The word “antagonism” comes from Ancient Greek. From Ancient Greek antagonistes ("opponent"), from antagonizomai ("to struggle against"), related to agon, "contest.".
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include antagonism:
