To make someone angry or hostile by doing something that bothers or offends them.
From Greek 'antagonizesthai' meaning 'to struggle against,' from 'anti-' (against) and 'agonizesthai' (to contend). The word entered English in the 1600s and originally meant literal opposition in contests, later evolving to mean emotional provocation.
The root 'agon' appears in words like 'agony' and 'protagonist,' and comes from ancient Greek athletic competitions—so antagonizing someone literally means 'putting them in a struggle' against you, which explains why it creates conflict.
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