Added 9 October 2026
antagonist
/ænˈtæɡənɪst/ noun
Latin root: antagonista Wiktionary
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about antagonist at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- Someone who offers opposition.
-
A muscle that relaxes while another contracts.
when bending the elbow the triceps are the antagonist
- A drug that neutralizes or counteracts the effects of another drug.
Origin
From Latin antagonista, from Ancient Greek ἀνταγωνιστής (antagōnistḗs, “opponent”) (ἀντί (antí, “against”) + ἀγωνιστής (agōnistḗs, “a combatant, pleader, actor”)), from ἀνταγωνίζομαι (antagōnízomai, “to antagonize”).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)