What does antagonise mean?
Antagonise is a verb that means to oppose or challenge someone or something, often in a strong or aggressive way. It can be used in a variety of contexts, from politics to business, and is often used to describe a situation where one party is actively working against another. The word can be considered more aggressive or confrontational than other words like 'oppose' or 'challenge', and is often used in formal or informal contexts. Antagonise is a useful word to know because it can help to describe complex or nuanced situations where one party is actively working against another. It is also an interesting word because it has a strong connotation of opposition or challenge, which can be useful in a variety of contexts.
verbTo oppose or challenge someone or something, often in a strong or aggressive way.
- To oppose or challenge someone or something, often in a strong or aggressive way.
"The politician's opponents tried to antagonise her during the debate."
"The politician's opponents tried to antagonise her during the debate."
"The company's competitors tried to antagonise them in the market."
Antagonise is an uncountable verb, but it can be used in the third person singular form 'antagonises' in certain contexts.
"The company's competitors antagonised them in the market."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of antagonise
The word 'antagonise' comes from the Greek word 'antagonistēs', meaning 'opponent' or 'adversary'. It entered the English language in the 17th century and has been used in a variety of contexts since then.
How antagonise is actually used
Antagonise is often used in formal or informal contexts, but it can be considered more aggressive or confrontational than other words like 'oppose' or 'challenge'.