antagonize | antagonistic | antagonism

Exam frequency

GRE

high

Banks

high

Civil Services

high

Meaning(s)

annoy somebody or make them dislike you

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antagonize - annoy

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When you ‘antagonize’ somebody, you provoke them to be hostile and react angrily towards you. This can be done unintentionally as a result of a real or perceived character flaw, or deliberately to unsettle somebody or make them lose their composure.

ExamsSpokenOther
Synonyms irritate
Antonyms

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  1. Tom is not capable of dealing with customer complaints in a professional manner. All he does is antagonize them further with his poor attitude.

  2. Our boss shoots down every suggestion that the team makes to her in a dismissive, antagonistic way, then wonders why staff morale is so low.

  3. The setting up of peace talks between the two factions after years of mutual antagonism was a major breakthrough.

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