adj
antagonistic
an-tag-uh-NIHS-tihk
Antagonistic (adj) means showing active hostility or opposition. Example: “He grew antagonistic toward anyone who questioned his plan.”
adj
1
Showing active hostility or opposition.
"He grew antagonistic toward anyone who questioned his plan."
"The two departments have an antagonistic relationship over budget decisions."
How to use antagonistic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishActively hostile or opposed to someone or something.
Common pairings
antagonistic relationship
antagonistic attitude
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like antagonistic.
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
- Comparative
- more antagonistic
- Superlative
- most antagonistic
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He grew _____ toward anyone who questioned his plan.
Etymology
From antagonist plus the adjective suffix -ic.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for antagonistic
holistic
sadistic
artistic
autistic
logistic
heuristic
statistic
realistic
ballistic
hedonistic
linguistic
futuristic
See all rhymes for antagonistic →
Frequently asked questions
What does “antagonistic” mean?
The word “antagonistic” means showing active hostility or opposition. In plain terms, actively hostile or opposed to someone or something.
How do you pronounce “antagonistic”?
“Antagonistic” is pronounced an-tag-uh-NIHS-tihk (/ænˌtæɡ.əˈnɪs.tɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “antagonistic” in a sentence?
Here is “antagonistic” used in a sentence: “He grew antagonistic toward anyone who questioned his plan.”
What part of speech is “antagonistic”?
“Antagonistic” is an adjective.