Library / English Dictionary

ANTAGONISE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Provoke the hostility of

Example:

Don't antagonize your boss

Synonyms:

antagonise; antagonize

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "antagonise" is one way to...):

annoy; bother; chafe; devil; get at; get to; gravel; irritate; nark; nettle; rag; rile; vex (cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The performance is likely to antagonise Sue

Derivation:

antagonism (an actively expressed feeling of dislike and hostility)

antagonism (a state of deep-seated ill-will)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Act in opposition to

Synonyms:

antagonise; antagonize; counteract

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "antagonise" is one way to...):

act; move (perform an action, or work out or perform (an action))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

antagonism (the relation between opposing principles or forces or factors)

Credits