Definition of antagonist Antagonist

/æntæˈgʌnʌst/ - [antatgunust] - an•tag•o•nist

We found 16 definitions of antagonist from 6 different sources.

What does antagonist mean?

Noun Plural: antagonists
antagonist - a drug that neutralizes or counteracts the effects of another drug
		synergist a drug that augments the activity of another drug
		drug a substance that is used as a medicine or narcotic
		estrogen antagonist, tamoxifen an antagonist for estrogen that is used in the treatment of breast cancer
antagonist - a muscle that relaxes while another contracts; "when bending the elbow the triceps are the antagonist"
		antagonistic muscle (physiology) a muscle that opposes the action of another; "the biceps and triceps are antagonistic muscles"
antagonist - someone who offers opposition
		adversary, opponent, opposer, resister
		agonist (biochemistry) a drug that can combine with a receptor on a cell to produce a physiological reaction
		mortal, somebody, someone, individual, person, soul a single organism
		dueler, duelist, dueller, duellist a person who fights duels
		foeman, foe, enemy, opposition a personal enemy; "they had been political foes for years"
		luddite one of the 19th century English workmen who destroyed laborsaving machinery that they thought would cause unemployment
		withstander an opponent who resists with force or resolution; "obstinate withstanders of innovation"

= synonym
= antonym
= related word

antagonist (Noun)
An opponent or enemy.
antagonist (Noun)
One who antagonizes or stirs.
antagonist (Noun)
A chemical that binds to a receptor but does not produce a physiological response, blocking the action of agonist chemicals.
antagonist (Noun)
The main character or force opposing the protagonist in a literary work or drama.

antagonist (n.)
One who contends with another, especially in combat; an adversary; an opponent.
antagonist (n.)
A muscle which acts in opposition to another; as a flexor, which bends a part, is the antagonist of an extensor, which extends it.
antagonist (n.)
A medicine which opposes the action of another medicine or of a poison when absorbed into the blood or tissues.
antagonist (a.)
Antagonistic; opposing; counteracting; as, antagonist schools of philosophy.

antagonist
Man who is hostile to, feels hatred towards, opposes the interests of, or intends injury to someone else.
antagonist
An immoral person who is commonly seen trying to prevent his or her opponent, the protagonist, from maintaining his or her role in society.
antagonist
(Anatomy) A muscle that reverses, or opposes, the action of another muscle.

An antagonist is the character in a story whom has evil intent. The antagonist(s) is the opposing character to a protagonist, which are the characters that have good intent. Antagonists normally have reasoning for committing acts of evil. Though it is rare, it is possible for an antagonist to be an evil doer committing acts of which a protagonist might through acts which may seem evil, which throw off most readers and characters of a story.

A secondary antagonist is an evil doer who serves to a main antagonist.

It should be noted that it is possible for a protagonist to become an antagonist. A prominent example of this was when Anakin Skywalker had turned from a Jedi to a Sith, namely becoming Darth Vader.