1
as in enemy
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 opponent
one that takes a position opposite another in a competition or conflict
his antagonist in the boxing match
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of antagonist
Adria Arjona recently joined the cast as Maxima, an alien queen who has been both an antagonist and a potential love interest for Superman in the comics.
—
Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 20 Apr. 2026
Second-leading scorer Dillon Brooks will reprise his role as Warriors antagonist after arriving in the Durant trade alongside athletic bucket-getter Jalen Green, who attended Prolific Prep High in Napa.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2026
Created by writer Roger Stern and artist George Pérez, the character is depicted at various times in DC’s comics as an antagonist, ally and would-be love interest to Superman.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 14 Apr. 2026
Season 2 was a chance for the show to take some risks and see where the Stargate could go beyond the off-world planets and battling major antagonists.
—Daryl Baxter, Space.com, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for antagonist
Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 20 Apr. 2026
Second-leading scorer Dillon Brooks will reprise his role as Warriors antagonist after arriving in the Durant trade alongside athletic bucket-getter Jalen Green, who attended Prolific Prep High in Napa.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2026
Created by writer Roger Stern and artist George Pérez, the character is depicted at various times in DC’s comics as an antagonist, ally and would-be love interest to Superman.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 14 Apr. 2026
Season 2 was a chance for the show to take some risks and see where the Stargate could go beyond the off-world planets and battling major antagonists.
—Daryl Baxter, Space.com, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for antagonist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for antagonist
Noun
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These are effective, but require attacks to be initiated from outside enemy airspace.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Apr. 2026
-
People of faith are not so easily deterred from speaking truth to power, even to power unafraid to drop bombs on its enemies.—
Ciera Bates-Chamberlain,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Those ratings create an estimate of how many goals each team is expected to score and allow in a game against an average opponent at a neutral site.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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Ramaswamy feels so assured of gliding through the May 5 primary that his campaign has all but ignored his GOP opponent so far.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Mason Gadbois led the attack with five goals to go with a pair of assists, as Danvers rallied to topple Northeastern Conference foe Winthrop, 13-11.—
Brian Roach,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
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Golden suggested national champion Michigan and in-state foe Miami as possibilities.—
Mark Long,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Beating their cross-state rivals — a similarly surprising playoff team — is one thing.—
Shayna Goldman,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
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Directed by Juan Pablo Arias Munoz, a prodigal daughter rejoins her family at their farm during a difficult time, as her ailing father faces both a terminal diagnosis and mounting pressure from rivals.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
1 May 2026
Noun
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None of this would’ve been possible without Lively and Baldoni, adversaries whose spite and resources compelled them to continue to pursue litigation when just about everyone else in their positions would have quickly settled in the cloaked realm of arbitration.—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Apr. 2026
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Few, however, anticipated that Washington’s mismanagement of the post-Saddam order would open the door for Iran to penetrate a former adversary and build influence from within.—
Alaa Shahine Salha,
semafor.com,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Antagonist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/antagonist. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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