antagonism

antagonism — noun

1. a strong feeling of dislike or anger that one person or group shows openly towar

1.名詞C1
釋義

a strong feeling of dislike or anger that one person or group shows openly toward another, often leading to arguments or unfriendly behaviour.

例句

There was clear antagonism between Beatriz and her stepfather throughout the family dinner.

antagonism between X and Y

The mayor's speech stirred up open antagonism toward the new factory project.

antagonism toward + target

同義詞
  • hostility

    very close in meaning; slightly more common in everyday writing

  • animosity

    more formal; emphasises long-standing personal hatred

  • enmity

    literary; suggests deep, lasting hostility between enemies

  • ill will

    milder; a quiet wish that someone fails rather than open conflict

反義詞
  • friendship

    warm personal bond; opposite of open dislike

  • goodwill

    general kindly attitude toward others

文法句型

antagonism between + noun + and + noun

antagonism toward + noun

用法筆記

Usually uncountable and abstract; the source of the feeling is marked with 'toward(s)' or 'against', and the parties involved are linked with 'between'. Stronger and more public than 'dislike' — it suggests the feeling is openly expressed.

常見錯誤

❌She has antagonism with her sister.
✅There is antagonism between her and her sister.
💡pair the two parties with 'between … and …', not 'with'.
❌He showed an antagonism to the plan.
✅He showed antagonism toward the plan.
💡usually uncountable, so no 'an'.

2. the way two ideas, principles, or forces work against each other, so that the ac

2.名詞C2
釋義

the way two ideas, principles, or forces work against each other, so that the action of one weakens or cancels out the other.

例句

The novel explores the antagonism between personal freedom and social duty in modern Taiwan.

antagonism between + abstract noun + and + abstract noun

Physicists study the antagonism between gravity and the outward push of hot gas inside a star.

antagonism between [force] and [force]

同義詞
  • conflict

    more general; can describe people, ideas, or events

  • opposition

    neutral; simply 'standing against', without the sense of cancelling out

  • tension

    softer; suggests an unresolved pull between two forces

反義詞
  • harmony

    the parts work together smoothly rather than against each other

  • synergy

    two forces combine to produce a stronger joint effect

文法句型

antagonism between + noun + and + noun

用法筆記

Distinct from sense 1: no person needs to be angry — the 'antagonism' is between abstract things (ideas, drives, forces). Common in academic, scientific, and critical writing. Often paired with abstract pairs like 'theory and practice' or 'individual and society'.

常見錯誤

❌The antagonism of light against dark in the painting.
✅The antagonism between light and dark in the painting.
💡use 'between … and …' to link the two opposing things.