antagonist

Noun
US[an-tag-uh-nuhst]/ænˈtæɡənəst/4 syllables
Synonyms: adversaryopponentopposerresister

Open English WordNet

Noun (3)antagonists

  1. someone who offers oppositionSynonyms: adversaryopponentopposerresisterOpposite agonistType of actor, doerKinds enemy, dueler, Luddite, withstanderExamples Antichrist
  2. a muscle that relaxes while another contracts“when bending the elbow the triceps are the antagonist”Type of antagonistic muscle
  3. a drug that neutralizes or counteracts the effects of another drugOpposite synergistType of drugKinds narcotic antagonist, estrogen antagonist

Related words antagonistic adjective, hostility noun, antagonism noun

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Webster's Dictionary (1913)

an·tag′o·nist (ăn-tăg′ō-nĭst), noun

Origin: L. antagonista, Gr. ἀνταγωνιστής; ἀντί against + ἀγωνιστής combatant, champion, fr. ἀγωνίζεσθαι: cf. F. antagoniste. See Antagonism.

1. One who contends with another, especially in combat; an adversary; an opponent.

Antagonist of Heaven's Almighty King.— John Milton
Our antagonists in these controversies.— Richard Hooker

2. Anatomy A muscle which acts in opposition to another; as a flexor, which bends a part, is the antagonist of an extensor, which extends it. AS

3. Medicine A substance which opposes the actions of another substance in the body, especially a drgu that counteracts the effects of another drug. [ + ]

Synonyms: Adversary; enemy; opponent; foe; competitor. See Adversary.

An·tag′o·nist adjective

Antagonistic; opposing; counteracting; as, antagonist schools of philosophy.

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54 · with additions: AS

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