Antagonize
/ænˈtæɡəˌnaɪz/
verbB2
Definition
Antagonize means to cause someone to feel angry, upset, or hostile (unfriendly). It usually happens when you do or say something that bothers or opposes another person. This can create problems or conflicts between people.
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See It in Action
To make someone angry or upset by your words or actions
- •He antagonized his classmates by always criticizing their work.
- •Don't antagonize your boss if you want to keep your job.
- •She antagonized her neighbors by playing loud music late at night.
To cause someone to become hostile or opposed to you
- •The politician antagonized many voters with his harsh comments.
- •His rude behavior antagonized the whole team.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'antagonize' like 'annoy,' but stronger—it makes someone actively dislike or fight against you, not just feel a little bothered.
- ✓Picture two people in a room where one keeps saying things that make the other frown or get angry.
- ✓It's the feeling when someone keeps pushing your buttons until you want to argue or avoid them.
- ✓Sounds like 'ant-AG-onize' → imagine an ant acting like a 'gang' leader, causing trouble and fights.
- ✓In stories, the antagonist is the 'bad guy' who causes problems; to antagonize is to act like that person by making others upset.
- ✓NOT like 'help' (which is friendly), antagonize means to cause trouble or make enemies.
- ✓NOT like 'ignore' (which is to not pay attention), antagonize is active—it means to do something that causes anger.
- ✓NOT like 'tease' (which can be playful), antagonize usually means serious upset or conflict.
Try Other Words
- •Irritate: to make someone slightly angry or uncomfortable (Use when the feeling is less strong and more about small troubles)
- •Provoke: to cause a strong reaction, often anger (Use when the action is meant to cause anger or reaction)
- •Offend: to hurt someone’s feelings or make them upset (Use when the cause is about feelings being hurt)
- •Anger: to make someone feel angry (Use when focusing on causing anger directly)
Unboxing
- •Prefix: 'ant-' meaning 'against'
- •Root: 'agon' from Greek meaning 'contest' or 'struggle'
- •Suffix: '-ize' meaning 'to make or cause'
- •Etymology: From Greek 'antagonizesthai,' meaning to struggle against or oppose
- •Historical development: Originally meaning to act as an opponent or rival, now used to mean causing anger or hostility
- •Modern usage: Used to describe actions that cause someone to become angry or hostile, often in social or personal conflicts
Reflect & Connect
•Can you think of a time when someone antagonized you without meaning to? How did you feel?
•How can understanding the word antagonize help you avoid making conflicts in your daily life?
Fill in the blanks
1.He antagonized his coworkers by ___ their ideas during meetings.
2.When you antagonize someone, it often causes ___ between people.
3.Unlike simply disagreeing, to antagonize means to ___ or upset someone on purpose.
4.The politician’s speech antagonized many voters, which led to ___ protests.
5.People who antagonize others usually do it by saying ___ or doing things that cause anger.
6.She tried not to antagonize her teacher because she wanted to ___ a good grade.
7.If you antagonize your friends, they might ___ you or stop talking to you.