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. Greek: ανταγωνιστής (el) (antagonistís) m. Malay: antagonis (ms), penentang (ms) 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) Portuguese: antagonista (pt) c.

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

chemical

Catalan: antagonista (ca) m. Greek: ανταγωνιστής (el) (antagonistís) m.

Norwegian: Kjemisk (no)

Anagrams

• stagnation