antagonize
Antagonize (verb) means to provoke hostility in someone, often deliberately. Example: “He antagonized his co-workers by taking credit for their ideas.”
How to use antagonize
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo deliberately provoke or upset someone, making them hostile toward you.
Word forms
antagonized past tense, antagonizes singular
Fill the gap
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He _____ his co-workers by taking credit for their ideas.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek antagonizomai, from anti- ("against") plus agonizomai ("to struggle, compete").
Synonyms
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Rhymes for antagonize
See all rhymes for antagonize →Frequently asked questions
What does “antagonize” mean?
The word “antagonize” means to provoke hostility in someone, often deliberately. In plain terms, to deliberately provoke or upset someone, making them hostile toward you.
How do you pronounce “antagonize”?
“Antagonize” is pronounced an-TAG-ih-nyz (/ænˈtæɡ.ɪ.naɪz/ in IPA).
How do you use “antagonize” in a sentence?
Here is “antagonize” used in a sentence: “He antagonized his co-workers by taking credit for their ideas.”
What part of speech is “antagonize”?
“Antagonize” is a verb.
Where does the word “antagonize” come from?
The word “antagonize” comes from Ancient Greek. From Ancient Greek antagonizomai, from anti- ("against") plus agonizomai ("to struggle, compete").
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