antagonist

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: an=tag=o=nist

CIDE DICTIONARY

antagonist, n. [L. antagonista, Gr. ; against + combatant, champion, fr. : cf. F. antagoniste. See Antagonism.].

•  One who contends with another, especially in combat; an adversary; an opponent.  [1913 Webster]

  "Antagonist of Heaven's Almigthy King."  [1913 Webster]

  "Our antagonists in these controversies."  [1913 Webster]
•  A muscle which acts in opposition to another; as a flexor, which bends a part, is the antagonist of an extensor, which extends it.  [1913 Webster]
•  A medicine which opposes the action of another medicine or of a poison when absorbed into the blood or tissues.  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- Adversary; enemy; opponent; foe; competitor. See Adversary.

antagonist, a. 

 Antagonistic; opposing; counteracting; as, antagonist schools of philosophy.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

antagonist, n.
1 an opponent or adversary.
2 Biol. a substance or organ that partially or completely opposes the action of another.

Derivative

antagonistic adj. antagonistically adv.

Etymology

F antagoniste or LL antagonista f. Gk antagonistes (as ANTAGONIZE)

THESAURUS

antagonist

Roscius, actor, actress, adversary, anti, antihero, archenemy, assailant, bad guy, barnstormer, bit, bit part, bitter enemy, cast, character, character actor, character man, character woman, child actor, combatant, competition, competitor, con, contender, cue, devil, diseur, diseuse, dramatizer, enemy, fat part, feeder, foe, foeman, foil, heavy, hero, heroine, histrio, histrion, ingenue, juvenile, lead, lead role, leading lady, leading man, leading woman, lines, match, matinee idol, mime, mimer, mimic, monologist, mummer, open enemy, opponent, opposer, opposing party, opposite camp, opposition, oppugnant, pantomime, pantomimist, part, person, personage, piece, playactor, player, protagonist, protean actor, public enemy, reciter, role, side, soubrette, stage performer, stage player, stooge, straight man, straight part, stroller, strolling player, supporting character, supporting role, sworn enemy, the loyal opposition, the opposition, theatrical, thespian, title role, trouper, utility man, villain, walk-on, walking part

ROGET THESAURUS

antagonist

Opponent

N opponent, antagonist, adversary, adverse party, opposition, enemy, the other side, assailant, oppositionist, obstructive, brawler, wrangler, brangler, disputant, filibuster, obstructionist, malcontent, Jacobin, Fenian, demagogue, reactionist, rival, competitor, bete noir.

Enemy

N enemy, antagonist, foe, foeman, open enemy, bitter enemy, opponent, back friend, public enemy, enemy to society, every hand being against one, he makes no friend who never made a foe, with friends like that, who needs enemies?, Lord protect me from my friends, I can protect myself from my enemies.