To antagonise

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "To antagonise" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing the act of causing someone to feel hostile or unfriendly towards someone else. Example: "His constant teasing began to antagonise his classmates, leading to a tense atmosphere in the classroom."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And she'd be petrifying to antagonise.

The Guardian - Film

Others wondered whether she set out to antagonise Duff.

The Guardian

There's certainly plenty of peaks about to antagonise.

The Guardian - Travel

She added that the report wasn't intended to antagonise drivers.

The Guardian

These tend to antagonise MPs rather than persuade them.

The Guardian

Kvyat's response – "I was racing … I didn't crash" – seemed to antagonise Vettel further.

The Guardian - Sport

"Clearly this is going to antagonise me," Katter told Guardian Australia on Friday.

The Guardian

This, combined with studios' reluctance to antagonise Hitchcock, meant her career never recovered.

The Guardian - Film

In a middle-class area, few wanted to antagonise the army.

The Guardian

Don't try to antagonise me, because it's not safe for you in this zoo, you know?

The Guardian - Music

Their opposition has been muted by a desire not to antagonise Sir Brian unnecessarily.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the specific nuance you want to convey when choosing between "to antagonise" and its alternatives; "to antagonise" implies a deliberate action aimed at provoking hostility, while other phrases may suggest unintentional irritation or broader effects like alienation.

Common error

Be mindful not to use "to antagonise" when a more subtle term like "to irritate" or "to annoy" is more appropriate. "To antagonise" suggests a more significant and intentional provocation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to antagonise" functions as an infinitive verb phrase, indicating a purpose or intention. It's used to describe actions aimed at provoking hostility or opposition, as seen in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

27%

Formal & Business

19%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to antagonise" is a grammatically sound and frequently used infinitive verb phrase. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread application across various domains. Predominantly found in News & Media and Science contexts, "to antagonise" describes the intention to provoke hostility. While appropriate for professional settings, it's essential to consider the context and choose alternatives like "to provoke" or "to irritate" for nuances. Mindful use ensures effective communication without unintended escalations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to provoke

Focuses more on inciting a specific reaction or action.

to irritate

Implies a milder form of annoyance than "to antagonise".

to aggravate

Suggests making a situation or feeling worse.

to inflame

Implies intensifying anger or hostility.

to alienate

Focuses on causing someone to feel isolated or estranged.

to offend

Highlights causing displeasure or hurt feelings.

to vex

Emphasizes causing worry or distress.

to exasperate

Implies frustrating someone intensely.

to peeve

Suggests a minor form of irritation.

to nettle

Implies causing slight but persistent annoyance.

FAQs

How can I use "to antagonise" in a sentence?

You can use "to antagonise" to describe actions that provoke hostility. For example: "The politician's remarks were likely "to antagonise" voters".

What's a good substitute for "to antagonise"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "to antagonise" include "to provoke", "to irritate", or "to aggravate".

Which is more appropriate: "to antagonise" or "to irritate"?

"To antagonise" implies a stronger, more deliberate action intended to cause hostility, while "to irritate" suggests a milder form of annoyance. Choose based on the intensity of the action you're describing.

Is there a difference between "to antagonise" and "to alienate"?

"To antagonise" focuses on provoking immediate hostility, while "to alienate" emphasizes causing someone to feel isolated or estranged over time.