antagonist
antagonist Lexical Profile
antagonist Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The principal character or force in a literary work, film, or drama that stands in opposition to the protagonist or hero.
"In the novel, the harsh winter climate serves as the primary antagonist against the stranded explorers."
A person who actively opposes or is hostile to someone or something; an adversary or opponent.
"Throughout the long political campaign, she remained a formidable antagonist to the incumbent senator."
A chemical substance or drug that binds to a cell receptor and blocks or dampens a biological response typically triggered by another substance.
"The physician administered a receptor antagonist to reverse the effects of the medication immediately."
A muscle that relaxes or contracts to oppose and regulate the action of another muscle (the agonist) during movement.
"When you bend your elbow, the biceps acts as the prime mover while the triceps functions as the antagonist."
Word Nuance & Usage
In literary criticism, an 'antagonist' is not necessarily a morally evil 'villain'; rather, the term simply denotes the character or force that opposes the protagonist's goals, even if the protagonist is an antihero and the antagonist is virtuous.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 16th century from French 'antagoniste' or Late Latin 'antagonista', ultimately from Ancient Greek 'antagōnistēs' ('competitor, rival'), from 'anti-' ('against') and 'agōnizesthai' ('to struggle or contend for a prize').