English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
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 notes

In plain EnglishOpen hostility or a strong dislike between people or groups.

Common pairings
mutual antagonism source of antagonism

Word forms

antagonisms plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “antagonism” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

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."

Origin: Ancient Greek

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

People also searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial