as in to infuriate
to implant bitter feelings in
everything he said just antagonized the other side even more
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Recent Examples of antagonize
See photos of Brooks' antagonizing style of play in action.
—
Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 19 Dec. 2025
Vance is now tasked with the job of threading the needle; forcefully supporting and defending the administration's policies in the media while not antagonizing swing voters away from the GOP column in three years.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Meanwhile, as the White House continues to antagonize pop stars, Vance is on X declaring his stake in the Nicki Minaj versus Cardi B rap feud, which has been largely dormant since October.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 11 Dec. 2025
With This is Gavin Newsom, the California governor is obviously working to position himself as some sort of aisle-bridging but Trump-antagonizing candidate, an acquiescent project that involves booking Steve Bannon one week and Ezra Klein the next.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for antagonize
Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 19 Dec. 2025
Vance is now tasked with the job of threading the needle; forcefully supporting and defending the administration's policies in the media while not antagonizing swing voters away from the GOP column in three years.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Meanwhile, as the White House continues to antagonize pop stars, Vance is on X declaring his stake in the Nicki Minaj versus Cardi B rap feud, which has been largely dormant since October.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 11 Dec. 2025
With This is Gavin Newsom, the California governor is obviously working to position himself as some sort of aisle-bridging but Trump-antagonizing candidate, an acquiescent project that involves booking Steve Bannon one week and Ezra Klein the next.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for antagonize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for antagonize
Verb
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No one exemplifies that, and infuriates Twins fans more, than Ortiz.—
Brian Hall,
Twin Cities,
5 Feb. 2026
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Seeing Sparkle cry about Landfair’s experience — something that Landfair hadn’t fully come to terms with — was discombobulating and infuriating.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Hulu This startling three-part docuseries tells the unfortunate, enraging story of Larry Ray.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Jan. 2026
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This is exactly the kind of mainstream Christian view that enrages Allie Beth Stuckey.—
Hillary Rodham Clinton,
The Atlantic,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But every time Trump takes to social media, angered by drug trafficking – or drone incursions, Sheinbaum Pardo has deftly reminded him of their working partnership, Jacobson said.—
Lauren Villagran,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
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In one of those realities (the actual one most of us are living in), a growing number of people across the political spectrum are angered, terrified and disgusted by actions being taken in their names by people and agencies which seem to have little or no accountability.—
Brenda Looper,
Arkansas Online,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Here, the situation has changed, leaving many of the gods either hardened or embittered by the conflict.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
27 Sep. 2025
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Domestic and regional actors often manipulate aid deliveries, creating a skewed economy that leaves some people embittered and others emboldened.—
Maha Yahya,
Foreign Affairs,
17 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Antagonize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/antagonize. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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