verb (used with object), an·tag·o·nized, an·tag·o·niz·ing.
- to make hostile or unfriendly; make an enemy or antagonist of: His speech antagonized many voters.
- to act in opposition to; oppose.
verb (used without object), an·tag·o·nized, an·tag·o·niz·ing.
- Rare. to act antagonistically.
verb (tr)
- to make hostile; annoy or irritate
- to act in opposition to or counteract
1630s, “to compete with,” from Greek antagonizesthai “to struggle against, oppose, be a rival” (see antagonist). Meaning “to struggle against continuously” is recorded from 1742. Related: Antagonized; antagonizing.