antagonism

Noun
Synonyms: hostilityenmity

WordNet 3.0

Noun (4)

  1. a state of deep-seated ill-willSynonyms: hostilityenmity
  2. the relation between opposing principles or forces or factors“the inherent antagonism of capitalism and socialism”
  3. an actively expressed feeling of dislike and hostility
  4. (biochemistry) interference in or inhibition of the physiological action of a chemical substance by another having a similar structure
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

antagonism \an*tag"o*nism\ ([a^]n*t[a^]g"[-o]*n[i^]z'm), n. [Gr. 'antagw`nisma, fr. 'antagwni`zesqai to struggle against; 'anti` against + 'agwni`zesqai to contend or struggle, 'agw`n contest: cf. F. antagonisme. See Agony.] Opposition of action; counteraction or contrariety of things or principles. [1913 Webster]

Note: We speak of antagonism between two things, to or against a thing, and sometimes with a thing. [1913 Webster]

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