antagonist

Meanings

• noun

  A person who actively opposes or is hostile to someone or something; an adversary.

  - "The burglar was the antagonist in the crime novel."
  - "The rebel leader was the antagonist in the government's eyes."

• noun

  In drama, a character who opposes the hero or protagonist.

  - "In Shakespeare's Hamlet, Claudius is the antagonist."
  - "In Star Wars, Darth Vader is the antagonist."

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Pronunciation

1. /ænˈtæɡənɪst/
   
   
   
   Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2049047"

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Antonyms

agonist , protagonist

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Rhymes

Words rhyming with antagonist
agonist , misanthrope , anarchist , misadventure , misapprehend , comprehend

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Variants

List of all variants of antagonist that leads to same result
antagonist , antagonistic muscle , antagonists

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Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

Late Middle English: from Greek antagonos, opponent, from anti- 'against' + agon 'contest'.

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Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. The term 'antagonist' comes from the Greek words 'anti' meaning 'against' and 'agon' meaning 'contest'.

2. In some stories, the antagonist may not be an evil character, but rather a misunderstood or misguided character who ultimately helps the protagonist grow or learn.

3. In Greek mythology, the Nemean lion was an antagonist or adversary that Hercules had to slay as one of his twelve labors.

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Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. protagonist: The main character or hero in a story, who is typically opposed by the antagonist.

2. conflict: A struggle or clash between opposing forces or parties, often between a protagonist and an antagonist.

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Quotes

Quotes by authors and personalities

1. They are interested in character first, and in Don, a foul-mouthed psychopath with a hair-trigger temper and buried longings for Gal's wife, they have created a truly scary "antagonist".

   - David Ansen,{it}Newsweek{/it},18 June 2001

2. As in that film, Kopple not only draws an intimate portrait of the protagonists and "antagonists" in the strike, but also deftly locates the workers' struggle within a broad context of economic and political forces.

   - Frank Thompson,{it}Film Comment{/it},January/February 1991

3. If the new comptroller is a true "antagonist" of the seamy bond market practices he decried in the campaign, why has he installed as his first deputy the public finance director from the Dinkins administration who was Holtzman's accomplice in each of those deals.

   - Wayne Barrett,{it}Village Voice{/it},March 1994

4. In the 1970s researchers discovered that the actions of estrogen and other hormones can be blocked chemically by drugs called hormone "antagonists" …

   - David Plotkin,{it}Atlantic{/it},June 1996

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Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

The antagonist is a crucial element in literature, film, and drama. They create conflict and tension, driving the story forward and providing a challenge for the protagonist to overcome. Antagonists can be portrayed as villains, but they can also be complex characters with their own motivations and sympathetic qualities. In some cases, the antagonist may even be a mentor or ally to the protagonist, adding depth to the relationship between the two.

How to Memorize "antagonist"

1. visualize
   

   - Visualize a person actively opposing or obstructing someone or something. Imagine a character in a story who creates conflict and tension.

2. associate
   

   - Associate the word 'antagonist' with 'opposition' or 'conflict'. Think of a character who creates challenges for the hero or protagonist.

3. mnemonics
   

   - Create a mnemonic by remembering that an 'antagonist' is 'against' the 'agonist' or 'hero' in a story.

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