antagonist

See also Antagonist

English

Etymology

From Latin antagonista, from Ancient Greek ἀνταγωνιστής (“opponent”) (ἀντί (anti, “against”) + ἀγωνιστής (agōnistēs, “a combatant, pleader, actor”)), from ἀνταγωνίζεσθαι (“antagonize”).

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ænˈtæɡənɪst/

• Audio (US)

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Noun

antagonist (plural antagonists)

1. An opponent or enemy.
2. One who antagonizes or stirs.
3. (biochemistry) A chemical that binds to a receptor but does not produce a physiological response, blocking the action of agonist chemicals.
   • 2001: The calcium antagonists represent one of the top ten classes of prescription drugs in terms of commercial value, with worldwide sales of nearly $10 billion in 1999. — Leslie Iversen, Drugs: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford 2001, p. 41)
4. The main character or force opposing the protagonist in a literary work or drama.

Antonyms

• protagonist
• agonist (biochemistry)

Related terms

agonistes antagonise, antagonize

antagonism receptor antagonist

Translations

opponent

• Bengali: প্রতিপক্ষ (bn)
• Catalan: antagonista (ca) m and f
• German: Antagonist (de) m
• Greek: ανταγωνιστής (el) (antagonistís) m 
• Malay: antagonis (ms), penentang (ms)
• Persian: هماورد (fa) (hamāvard), رقیب (fa) (raghib), حریف (fa) (harif)
• Portuguese: antagonista (pt) c

• Russian: антагонист (ru) (antagoníst) m 
• Spanish: antagonista (es) m and f
• Swedish: motståndare (sv)

one who antagonizes

• Greek: ανταγωνιστής (el) (antagonistís) m 
• Malay: antagonis (ms), penentang (ms)
• Persian: دشمن (fa) (došman), مخالف (fa) (moxālef)
• Portuguese: antagonista (pt) c

• Russian: антагонист (ru) (antagoníst) m 
• Spanish: antagonista (es) m and f

chemical

• Catalan: antagonista (ca) m
• German: Antagonist (de) m

• Greek: ανταγωνιστής (el) (antagonistís) m 
• Norwegian: Kjemisk (no)

Anagrams

• stagnation