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⇱ antagonist - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

antagonist

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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ænˈtægənɪst/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ænˈtægənɪst/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(an tag′ə nist)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
an•tag•o•nist /ænˈtægənɪst/USA pronunciation   n. [countable]
  1. opponent;
    adversary:considered his opponent a dangerous antagonist.
  2. Literature(in drama or literature) the opponent of the hero or protagonist.
an•tag•o•nis•tic, adj. 
an•tag•o•nis•ti•cal•ly, adv. See -agon-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
an•tag•o•nist  (an tag′ə nist),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. a person who is opposed to, struggles against, or competes with another;
    opponent;
    adversary.
  2. Literaturethe adversary of the hero or protagonist of a drama or other literary work:Iago is the antagonist of Othello.
  3. Physiologya muscle that acts in opposition to another. Cf. agonist (def. 3).
  4. Dentistrya tooth in one jaw that articulates during mastication or occlusion with a tooth in the opposing jaw.
  5. Drugs[Pharm.]a drug that counteracts the effects of another drug.
  • Greek antagōnisté̄s. See antagonize, -ist
  • Late Latin antagōnista
  • 1590–1600
    1. contestant, enemy, foe. See adversary. 
    1. ally, friend.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
antagonist /ænˈtæɡənɪst/ n
  1. an opponent or adversary, as in a contest, drama, sporting event, etc
  2. any muscle that opposes the action of another
  3. a drug that counteracts the effects of another drug
    Compare synergist
'antagonist' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

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