If a person is antagonisticto someone or something, they show hatred or dislike towards them.
Nearly all the women I interviewed were aggressively antagonistic to the idea. [+ to/towards]
Synonyms: hostile, opposed, resistant, at odds More Synonyms of antagonistic
antagonistic in British English
(ænˌtæɡəˈnɪstɪk)
adjective
1.
in active opposition
2.
mutually opposed
Derived forms
antagonistically (anˌtagoˈnistically)
adverb
antagonistic in American English
(ænˌtægəˈnɪstɪk)
adjective
showing antagonism; acting in opposition
Derived forms
antagonistically (anˌtagoˈnistically)
adverb
antagonistic in the Pharmaceutical Industry
(æntægənɪstɪk)
adjective
(Pharmaceutical: Physiology)
Antagonistic substances counteract the effects of another drug or substance.
An anticarcinogen is antagonistic to a carcinogen.
An antagonistic drug binds to a receptor and stops it being activated by another drug.
Antagonistic substances counteract the effects of another drug or substance.
Examples of 'antagonistic' in a sentence
antagonistic
It is clear that you and your daughter have had a difficult and at times antagonistic relationship over the years.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But it also implies an antagonistic, or potentially antagonistic relation between the parties to the bargain.
Collins, Richard Television - policy and culture (1990)
If we had an antagonistic relationship, it is a battle we would struggle to win.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This can feel aggressively antagonistic.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Since capitalism was to be the final form of society based on antagonistic class relations, socialism would be a classless society.
Sanderson, Stephen K. Macrosociology: An Introduction to Human Societies (1995)
These were impressive feats of both memory and humility, with the singer accepting his share of blame for their mutually antagonistic relationship.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Mr Bright became ill after a morning of increasingly antagonistic and complex cross-examination.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
(adjective)
Nearly all the women were antagonistic to the idea.
Synonyms
hostile
hostile to the idea of foreign intervention
opposed
I am utterly opposed to any form of animal cruelty.
resistant
Some people are resistant to the idea of exercise.
at odds
Her inexperience is at odds with the tale she tells.
incompatible
Their interests were mutually incompatible.
set against
averse
He's not averse to publicity.
unfriendly
She spoke in a loud, rather unfriendly voice.
at variance
inimical
a false morality that is inimical to human happiness
antipathetic
ill-disposed
Usage note
A useful synonym for antagonistic, for example in public opinion is antagonistic to nuclear energy, is averse. However, this alternative should be used with care as a very common error is to confuse it with adverse. Averse is usually followed by to and is meant to convey a strong dislike or hostility towards something, normally expressed by a person or people. Adverse is wrong in this context and should be used in relation to conditions or results: adverse road conditions.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of antipathetic
Synonyms
hostile,
offensive,
disgusting,
revolting,
incompatible,
distasteful,
averse,
repellent,
obnoxious,
repulsive,
antagonistic,
odious,
hateful,
repugnant,
loathsome,
abhorrent,
invidious,
yucky or yukky (slang)
in the sense of at odds
Definition
at variance
Her inexperience is at odds with the tale she tells.