ANTAGONIZE Synonyms: 25 Similar and Opposite Words

antagonize

verb

an-ˈta-gə-ˌnīz

Definition of antagonize

as in to infuriate

to implant bitter feelings in everything he said just antagonized the other side even more

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of antagonize India, the host, wants the summit to accomplish as much as possible without antagonizing the United States. — Ian Bremmer, Time, 11 Sep. 2026 Hughes ran up to multiple people, attempting to scare and antagonize them, police said. — Frederick Sutton Sinclair, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026 The government continues to fiercely prosecutes its critics, barring Cubans who antagonize the communist regime from the pool of potential investors. — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026 Jimmy Tatro will play Gorilla Grodd, the hyper-intelligent ape from Gorilla City who typically antagonizes the Flash. — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for antagonize

Recent Examples of Synonyms for antagonize

Verb

Trip isn’t the standout role, but Keery handles the character’s exasperated monologues with panache, turning self-defense and infuriated straight-talk into acts of exhilarating sanity.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
Cummings said that in January 2021, a friend of Birchmore’s called Stoughton police and told a dispatcher about the illicit relationship, infuriating Farwell.

— Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of infuriate

Verb

No commercial goods have entered the Gaza Strip for two days, Israeli authorities said Thursday, blaming the suspension on merchants angered by taxes imposed by the militant group Hamas — a claim that Palestinian importers deny.

— Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
The dispute over the report, which tackled an issue close to Weiss, forced CBS News to delay promotion of the episode and angered Stahl, who felt compelled to defend her reporting at a late stage of production.

— Brian Steinberg, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of anger

Verb

Her mother reassured her that wasn’t the case — and instead of being embittered by the encounter, the young Levine began attending a Catholic catechism class to learn more about her Christian neighbors and their beliefs.

— Peter Smith, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
And so Ludwig Wilhelm Sachs, a Königsberg physician and a former member of Ebel’s circle, embittered by his expulsion, intervened.

— Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of embitter

Browse Nearby Words

antagonists

antagonize

antagonized

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“Antagonize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/antagonize. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of antagonize

verb

Example Sentences

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