antagonize
an-TAG-uh-nyz
/ænˈtæɡənaɪz/
To cause someone to become hostile or angry.
Antagonize implies a relationship where one person sets themselves up as the 'enemy' (antagonist) of another.
The story behind the word. The 'agon' in the middle is the same root as 'agony'. In ancient Greek drama, the 'agonist' was the main character, and the 'antagonist' was the one struggling against them. To antagonize is to start that struggle.
Word relationships
- provoke: Provoke is about the specific reaction; antagonize is about creating a general state of hostility.
- placate: Placate means to make someone less angry or hostile.
Commonly confused with
- agonize: Agonize is to suffer great mental or physical pain; antagonize is to make someone else angry.
Word family
- antagonist (noun): A person who actively opposes or is hostile to someone or something.
- antagonism (noun): Active hostility or opposition.
Collocations
- antagonize a neighbor
- unnecessarily antagonize
- antagonize the opposition
Example sentences
- "A good manager knows how to give criticism without antagonizing their employees." Management advice.
- "He seemed to go out of his way to antagonize everyone he met." Social observation.
Memory hook
Antagonize = Anti + Guy. You are being the 'anti-guy' to someone else. Antagonize: Creating an enemy.
When not to use
Don't use it for inanimate objects. You don't 'antagonize' a car that won't start.
Fun facts
- In pharmacology, an 'antagonist' is a substance that stops or reduces the effect of another substance.
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