ANTAGONISM

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does antagonism mean? 

• ANTAGONISM (noun)
  The noun ANTAGONISM has 4 senses:

1. a state of deep-seated ill-will

2. the relation between opposing principles or forces or factors

3. an actively expressed feeling of dislike and hostility

4. (biochemistry) interference in or inhibition of the physiological action of a chemical substance by another having a similar structure

  Familiarity information: ANTAGONISM used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ANTAGONISM (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A state of deep-seated ill-will

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

antagonism; enmity; hostility

Hypernyms ("antagonism" is a kind of...):

state (the way something is with respect to its main attributes)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "antagonism"):

latent hostility; tension (feelings of hostility that are not manifest)

state of war; war (a legal state created by a declaration of war and ended by official declaration during which the international rules of war apply)

cold war (a state of political hostility between countries using means short of armed warfare)

suspicion (the state of being suspected)

Instance hyponyms:

Cold War (a state of political hostility that existed from 1945 until 1990 between countries led by the Soviet Union and countries led by the United States)

Derivation:

antagonise (provoke the hostility of)

antagonist (someone who offers opposition)

antagonistic (incapable of harmonious association)

antagonistic (characterized by antagonism or antipathy)

antagonize (provoke the hostility of)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The relation between opposing principles or forces or factors

Classified under:

Nouns denoting relations between people or things or ideas

Context example:

the inherent antagonism of capitalism and socialism

Hypernyms ("antagonism" is a kind of...):

oppositeness; opposition (the relation between opposed entities)

Derivation:

antagonise (act in opposition to)

antagonist (someone who offers opposition)

antagonistic (characterized by antagonism or antipathy)

antagonistic (indicating opposition or resistance)

Sense 3

Meaning:

An actively expressed feeling of dislike and hostility

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Hypernyms ("antagonism" is a kind of...):

dislike (a feeling of aversion or antipathy)

enmity; hostility; ill will (the feeling of a hostile person)

Derivation:

antagonise (provoke the hostility of)

antagonist (someone who offers opposition)

antagonistic (arousing animosity or hostility)

antagonize (provoke the hostility of)

Sense 4

Meaning:

(biochemistry) interference in or inhibition of the physiological action of a chemical substance by another having a similar structure

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("antagonism" is a kind of...):

hinderance; hindrance; interference (the act of hindering or obstructing or impeding)

Domain category:

biochemistry (the organic chemistry of compounds and processes occurring in organisms; the effort to understand biology within the context of chemistry)

Derivation:

antagonist (a drug that neutralizes or counteracts the effects of another drug)

antagonistic (used especially of drugs or muscles that counteract or neutralize each other's effect)

 Context examples 

Numerical result translated into indifference, antagonism, synergism, or additive.

(Antimicrobial Combination Testing Method, NCI Thesaurus)

The exact mechanism of action is not entirely understood, but most likely ethosuximide exerts its effects by partial antagonism of T-type calcium channels of the thalamic neurons.

(Ethosuximide, NCI Thesaurus)

I think that through the cloudiness of his insanity he saw some antagonism in me, for he at once fell back on the last refuge of such as he—a dogged silence.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

"Caffeinated beverages such as coffee and tea may have long-term anti-arrhythmic properties mediated by antioxidant effects and antagonism of adenosine," Dr. Kistler said.

(3 Cups Of Coffee Daily Could Improve Heart Function, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

He caught her spirit of antagonism and strove to divine the message that her hands pronounced upon the keys.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

This leads to a reduction of spontaneous locomotion and aggressiveness, suppression of conditioned response, antagonism of stereotyped behaviour and hyperactivity induced by amphetamines.

(Molindone Hydrochloride, NCI Thesaurus)

Although its exact mechanism of action in schizophrenia is unknown, it has been proposed that olanzapine's antipsychotic activity is mediated through antagonism to dopamine D2 receptors with rapid ligand-receptor dissociation kinetics that help to minimize extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS).

(Olanzapine, NCI Thesaurus)

In addition, antagonism of AT1 in the adrenal gland inhibits angiotensin II-stimulated aldosterone synthesis and secretion by the adrenal cortex; sodium and water excretion increase, followed by a reduction in plasma volume and blood pressure.

(Candesartan, NCI Thesaurus)

"Your doctrine certainly sounds like socialism," Mr. Morse replied, while Ruth gazed anxiously from one to the other, and Mrs. Morse beamed happily at the opportunity afforded of rousing her liege lord's antagonism.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Toward the close of their talk she warned him again of the antagonism of her father and mother.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)