antagonism
Meaning: Active hostility or opposition between people, groups, or ideas.
Antagonism implies an ongoing, active opposition rather than a single disagreement. It can describe conflict between people ('antagonism between rivals'), between groups ('class antagonism'), or between ideas ('the antagonism between tradition and progress'). In pharmacology, antagonism refers to the interference of one substance with the action of another. The related word 'antagonist' means an opponent or adversary. The word suggests a deeper, more fundamental opposition than mere disagreement.
Examples
- There was deep-rooted antagonism between the neighbouring communities that dated back decades. 两个邻近社区之间存在着可追溯到数十年前的根深蒂固的对抗。Existía un antagonismo profundamente arraigado entre las comunidades vecinas que se remontaba décadas atrás.隣接する二つの地域社会の間には、数十年前にさかのぼる根深い対立があった。인접한 두 지역 사회 사이에는 수십 년 전으로 거슬러 올라가는 뿌리 깊은 적대감이 있었다.
- The growing antagonism between the union and management made a strike increasingly likely. 工会与管理层之间日益加剧的对抗使罢工的可能性越来越大。El creciente antagonismo entre el sindicato y la dirección hacía cada vez más probable una huelga.労働組合と経営陣の間の対立が激化し、ストライキの可能性がますます高まった。노동조합과 경영진 사이의 대립이 격화되면서 파업 가능성이 점점 높아졌다.
- Marx analysed the fundamental antagonism between the interests of capital and labour. 马克思分析了资本利益与劳动利益之间的根本对立。Marx analizó el antagonismo fundamental entre los intereses del capital y los del trabajo.マルクスは資本と労働の利害の間の根本的な対立を分析した。마르크스는 자본과 노동의 이해관계 사이의 근본적인 대립을 분석했다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: academic, media, professional
Tone: negative
Origin & History
From Greek antagonisma (competition, rivalry), from antagonizesthai (to struggle against), from anti- (against) + agonizesthai (to contend), from agon (contest). Originally a term from Greek drama for the opponent of the protagonist.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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