antagonistic

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'antagonistic' is correct and usable in written English.
It is an adjective that means marked by or involving antagonism or hostility. Example sentence: The two teams have a long history of antagonistic behavior.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But the conflict showed the limits of social networks when you have two antagonistic societies at war with each other.

The Guardian - Opinion

How can press officers and journalists work better together so they have a mutually beneficial, symbiotic relationship rather than an antagonistic one?

The Guardian

And try to have a constructive dialogue and make it less antagonistic.

The Guardian

I talked separately with Rolf Skar, Greenpeace's forests campaign director, and Peggy Ward, Kimberly-Clark's director of sustainability strategy, to learn how they turned their antagonistic dynamic into a partnership.

The Guardian

Jon Savage Jon Savage is a cultural commentator whose books include England's Dreaming: Sex Pistols and Punk Rock and Teenage: The Creation of Youth 1875-1945 Colin Jones's justly famous photograph captures the Who at a moment of maximum combustibility: "I'd never met a band that were so antagonistic towards each other," he later recalled.

The Guardian

I think the Americans' stubborn position on the Falklands, going along with the view that Britain and Argentina ought to negotiate, while knowing that London has no intention to, is a much more serious affront.But in general there seems to me to be too great a willingness to find deep, antagonistic motives in Mr Obama's behaviour.

The Economist

Public opinion is not on Mr Simitis's side.In this section Europe's smuggled masses The Ocalan crisis Wicked, really Against the grain Poland's pig-headed farmers Bodo Hombach, Germany's trouble-shooter Reprints Related items The tragedy of the KurdsFeb 18th 1999The prime minister's problem has its roots in the history of Greece's antagonistic relations with Turkey and with the Kurds.

The Economist

(It seemed as much a gift to Americans who were tired of George Bush's antagonistic "diplomacy").

The Economist

Unlike the more homogeneous populations of Tunisia and Egypt, Jordan's mixed and often antagonistic population of Palestinian refugees and East Bank Bedouin ensures the opposition remains divided, they say.

The Economist

The "antagonistic" Californian model, where initiatives are "hammers" to smash things, is one to avoid, he says.

The Economist

The president may find that dealing with Kenya's newly organised "civil society" is trickier than sacking an antagonistic civil servant.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "antagonistic" to describe relationships or situations characterized by active opposition or hostility. It's stronger than "unfriendly" but less aggressive than "belligerent".

Common error

Avoid using "antagonistic" when a simpler term like "competitive" or "challenging" would suffice. "Antagonistic" implies a degree of active hostility that may not always be present.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "antagonistic" is as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe a quality of opposition or hostility. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it accurately portrays contention or acting against, demonstrated in examples like "antagonistic societies" or "antagonistic motives."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "antagonistic" is an adjective used to describe something characterized by opposition or hostility. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and frequently found in various contexts, predominantly in News & Media. When choosing a synonym, consider the nuance you want to convey: "hostile" emphasizes animosity, while "combative" highlights a readiness to argue. Avoid overusing "antagonistic" in situations where a simpler term would suffice. In short, "antagonistic" is a powerful word for conveying conflict, but should be used judiciously to maintain clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hostile

Direct synonym replacement with a focus on animosity.

combative

Emphasizes a readiness to fight or argue.

adversarial

Highlights the opposing nature of the relationship or situation.

belligerent

Focuses on aggressive and warlike behavior.

opposing

Highlights the act of being against something.

unfriendly

Indicates a lack of warmth or kindness.

inimical

Stresses the harmful or obstructing nature.

at odds

Suggests disagreement and conflict.

in opposition

Formally expresses being against something.

antipathetic

Expresses a deep-seated aversion or dislike.

FAQs

How to use "antagonistic" in a sentence?

You can use "antagonistic" to describe a relationship, attitude, or force that is acting in opposition. For example, "The two political parties have an antagonistic relationship."

What can I say instead of "antagonistic"?

You can use alternatives like "hostile", "combative", or "adversarial" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "antagonistic"?

"Antagonistic" is appropriate when describing a situation or relationship marked by active opposition, conflict, or hostility. It's not suitable for describing neutral competition.

What is the difference between "antagonistic" and "competitive"?

"Antagonistic" implies active hostility and opposition, while "competitive" simply means striving to be better than others. Two companies can be competitive without being "antagonistic".