1
as in enemies
one that is hostile toward another
please name the novel's hero and his antagonist
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in opponents
one that takes a position opposite another in a competition or conflict
his antagonist in the boxing match
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of antagonists
On the Dungeon Master side, the book included new organizations, guilds and other element of city life that can be used as allies and antagonists.
—
Rob Wieland, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
And yet, introducing new antagonists through a muddled mystery, the core Conjuring mythology nearly cracks beyond repair.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025
The Morning Show Season 4 trailer has arrived, teasing the return of not only Reese Witherspoon’s Bradley Jackson but also one of Season 3’s main antagonists Paul Marks (Jon Hamm).
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2025
Arguably none of the major antagonists proved as impactful to the series as Jon Lithgow's Trinity Killer.
—Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
But that alliance puts our heroes in the sights of antagonists such as Colonel Bradbury (Giancarlo Esposito), a machine-hating military man who does his drone dirty work from his cush home library.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2025
And aren’t Putin and Russia our antagonists and enemies?
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2025
Withholding the bust from his antagonists seemed to give him joy.
—Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
Directed by Tate Taylor, best known for The Help and Get on Up, this criminally under-appreciated film allows Spencer’s friendly caretaker and terrifying predator to become one of the most memorable horror antagonists in recent years.
—Travis Bean, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
Rob Wieland, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
And yet, introducing new antagonists through a muddled mystery, the core Conjuring mythology nearly cracks beyond repair.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025
The Morning Show Season 4 trailer has arrived, teasing the return of not only Reese Witherspoon’s Bradley Jackson but also one of Season 3’s main antagonists Paul Marks (Jon Hamm).
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2025
Arguably none of the major antagonists proved as impactful to the series as Jon Lithgow's Trinity Killer.
—Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
But that alliance puts our heroes in the sights of antagonists such as Colonel Bradbury (Giancarlo Esposito), a machine-hating military man who does his drone dirty work from his cush home library.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2025
And aren’t Putin and Russia our antagonists and enemies?
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2025
Withholding the bust from his antagonists seemed to give him joy.
—Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
Directed by Tate Taylor, best known for The Help and Get on Up, this criminally under-appreciated film allows Spencer’s friendly caretaker and terrifying predator to become one of the most memorable horror antagonists in recent years.
—Travis Bean, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for antagonists
Noun
-
Dealing with internal conflicts of identity while being threatened by external enemies is not unique to Israel.—
Ron Scherf,
Time,
5 Sep. 2025
-
In the scope of housework, hard water stains are high on the list of public enemies in my home.—
Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott,
Southern Living,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Under captain Eric Brown, the GB&I team was even instructed not to help opponents search for lost balls.—
Tim Corlett,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Through two games, the Ragin’ Cajuns have held opponents to an average of 12 points per game — a mark that’s tied for the best in the Sun Belt.—
Maddie Hartley,
Kansas City Star,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Green Bay went 1-5 against divisional foes in 2005, though, and Sherman was fired one day after the season ended.—
Rob Reischel,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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All four of its losses came to Detroit and the Rams, a pair of excellent foes.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Over the last three years both Teck and Anglo have been takeover targets for their mining rivals, Australia’s BHP and Swiss-based Glencore.—
Tim Treadgold,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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The product launches demonstrate how Europe’s legacy manufacturers are taking the fight to their Chinese rivals, in a bid to both retain market share in the European Union and offset declining sales in China, the world’s largest car market.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
If quantum adversaries gain the upper hand, the implications for national and global economic stability could be catastrophic.—
John Prisco,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
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The biggest casualty, says Srivastava, will be the goodwill between India and the United States, built after decades of bitterness over Washington's support of India's adversaries like Pakistan.—
Omkar Khandekar,
NPR,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Antagonists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/antagonists. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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