antagonism
C1Formal, Academic, Journalistic
Definition
Meaning
Active opposition or hostility between people or groups.
An actively expressed opposition or unfriendly state. Can also refer to a biochemical interaction where one substance opposes the action of another.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies an active, often mutual, hostility. It is more than simple dislike; it suggests conflict or opposition in principles, aims, or actions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Slightly more common in UK political journalism.
Connotations
Equally strong connotation of active conflict in both varieties.
Frequency
Moderately low frequency in both; more common in written than spoken language.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
antagonism between (X and Y)antagonism toward(s)antagonism againstantagonism over (an issue)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “There's no love lost between them. (implying antagonism)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe conflicts between departments, management and unions, or competing firms.
Academic
Common in political science, sociology, and history to describe ideological or group conflicts.
Everyday
Used to describe persistent bad feeling between neighbours, family members, or colleagues.
Technical
In biochemistry/pharmacology: 'receptor antagonism' - a molecule blocking a biological receptor.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He antagonises his colleagues with his blunt manner.
- The policy antagonised the trade unions.
American English
- She antagonized her neighbors with loud parties.
- The proposal antagonized environmental groups.
adverb
British English
- He reacted antagonistically to the suggestion.
- The groups are positioned antagonistically.
American English
- She looked at him antagonistically.
- The two systems function antagonistically.
adjective
British English
- His antagonistic attitude made negotiation impossible.
- They took an antagonistic stance on the issue.
American English
- Her antagonistic behavior created a hostile work environment.
- The two drugs have antagonistic effects.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- There is a lot of antagonism between the two football teams.
- I felt some antagonism from my new classmates.
- The debate revealed a deep antagonism between the two political parties.
- His criticism was met with open antagonism from the panel.
- The historical antagonism between the ethnic groups flared up into violence.
- Pharmacologists study the receptor antagonism of new drug compounds.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
ANT + AGONISM. Think of an ANT (insect) aggressively fighting another ant colony – active hostility.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONFLICT IS WAR (e.g., 'open antagonism', 'a long-running antagonism').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not simply 'антагонизм' (direct cognate). Russian often uses 'вражда' or 'неприязнь' for personal antagonism, and 'противоречие' for contradiction, not active hostility.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing with 'antagonist' (the person/entity). Using it for a one-sided feeling (better: 'resentment' or 'animosity'). Overusing in informal contexts.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'antagonism' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Antagonism implies active hostility and opposition, often with negative emotion. Rivalry can be competitive but not necessarily hostile (e.g., friendly rivalry).
Yes, e.g., 'antagonism towards the new policy' or 'antagonism against change'. It often involves a person or group holding that feeling.
Not necessarily. One party can feel antagonism toward another who is unaware or indifferent, but the word often describes a two-sided conflict.
It is moderately formal. In everyday speech, people might use 'bad blood', 'hostility', or 'friction' instead.