Antagonist: meaning, definitions and examples
๐ฟ
antagonist
[ รฆnหtรฆษก.ษn.ษชst ]
literature
A person who actively opposes or is hostile to someone or something; an adversary.
Synonyms
adversary, enemy, foe, opponent, rival.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| antagonist |
Used in literature or storytelling to describe a character that opposes the protagonist. It often has a formal or neutral tone.
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| adversary |
Commonly used in sports, competitions, or conflicts to denote a person or group that one is competing against. It often implies a level of respect.
|
| opponent |
Primarily used in sports, debates, or any competitive scenario to indicate someone on the opposite side. It has a neutral tone.
|
| enemy |
Used to describe someone who seeks to harm or is hostile towards another. It often has a strong negative connotation and can be used in both personal and broader contexts like wars.
|
| foe |
Another term for an enemy, typically used in more formal or literary contexts. The term can evoke a sense of drama or historical conflict.
|
| rival |
Describes someone who competes for the same goal or object, often prompting a sense of ongoing competition or rivalry. It can be used in personal, professional, or academic contexts.
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Examples of usage
- He plays the antagonist to the hero in the novel.
- She saw him as her antagonist in the upcoming election.
- The antagonist in the movie was a ruthless villain.
- The antagonist's motives were finally revealed in the last chapter.
- The detective finally caught the antagonist after a long chase.
biology
A molecule that binds to a receptor and inhibits or blocks the receptor's activity.
Synonyms
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| antagonist |
Used in literature or storytelling to describe a character who opposes the protagonist or main character. It has a neutral to negative connotation depending on the context.
|
| blocker |
Commonly used in various contexts, such as sports or business, to describe someone or something that obstructs progress. It has a neutral connotation.
|
| inhibitor |
Used in scientific or technical contexts, especially in chemistry or biology, to describe a substance that slows down or prevents a reaction. It has a neutral connotation.
|
Examples of usage
- The drug acts as an antagonist to the receptor, preventing its activation.
- This antagonist molecule blocks the neurotransmitter from binding to the receptor.
Translations
Translations of the word "antagonist" in other languages:
๐ต๐น antagonista
๐ฎ๐ณ เคตเคฟเคฐเฅเคงเฅ
๐ฉ๐ช Antagonist
๐ฎ๐ฉ antagonis
๐บ๐ฆ ะฐะฝัะฐะณะพะฝััั
๐ต๐ฑ antagonista
๐ฏ๐ต ๆตๅฝน (ใฆใใใ)
๐ซ๐ท antagoniste
๐ช๐ธ antagonista
๐น๐ท antagonist
๐ฐ๐ท ์ ๋์ (jeokdaeja)
๐ธ๐ฆ ุฎุตู
๐จ๐ฟ antagonista
๐ธ๐ฐ antagonista
๐จ๐ณ ๅฏนๆ (duรฌshวu)
๐ธ๐ฎ antagonist
๐ฎ๐ธ andstรฆรฐingur
๐ฐ๐ฟ าะฐัััะปะฐั
๐ฌ๐ช แแแขแแแแแแกแขแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ ษks tษrษf
๐ฒ๐ฝ antagonista
Etymology
The word 'antagonist' comes from the Greek word 'antagonistes', which means 'opponent'. It has been used in English since the early 17th century to refer to a person who opposes or competes with another. In the context of biology, the term 'antagonist' was first used in the late 19th century to describe a molecule that blocks the action of a neurotransmitter. Over the years, 'antagonist' has become a widely recognized term in both literary and scientific fields.