antagonizer
|an-tag-o-ni-zer|
🇺🇸
/ænˈtæɡəˌnaɪzər/
🇬🇧
/ænˈtæɡənaɪzə/
one who opposes or provokes
Etymology
'antagonizer' originates from Modern English, formed by adding the agent suffix '-er' to the verb 'antagonize'.
'antagonize' entered English from earlier forms such as French 'antagoniser' and Latin/French borrowings ultimately tracing back to Greek 'antagōnizesthai'/'antagōnistēs' (meaning 'opponent' or 'one who contends'), and the modern English agent noun 'antagonizer' developed by suffixation.
Initially the root terms referred broadly to an 'opponent' or 'competitor'; over time the sense expanded to include 'to provoke hostility' (antagonize) and consequently 'antagonizer' came to mean 'one who provokes or causes hostility' as well as simply 'an opponent'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who antagonizes; someone who provokes hostility, opposition, or resentment in others.
He became known as an antagonizer in the office, often making remarks that upset colleagues.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/20 13:37