antagonises
Picks a fight
Antagonises is the British spelling of antagonizes.
To antagonise is to provoke hostility or opposition in someone: His constant interruptions antagonised the entire committee.
The word suggests actively creating an adversary through one's behaviour, whether deliberately or carelessly: She antagonised her neighbours by playing loud music at night.
Incites a reaction
- irritatesProvokes mild anger
- annoysCauses petty irritation
- aggravatesMakes more severe
- needlesSlender pointed instruments
goads · riles · baits · pesters · taunts · winds up · gets under skin · rubs wrong way
Acts in resistance
- resistsActively withstands force
- countersSurfaces, talliers, or chips
- conflictsSerious disagreements or fights
- clashesViolent encounters or disagreements
defies · challenges · confronts · contradicts · obstructs · thwarts · undermines · sabotages
Slows or prevents action
- blocksObstructs or sections
- counteractsNeutralizes an opposing force
- neutralizesRemoves effect or danger
- opposesActs in resistance
receptor · suppresses · interferes · binds · competing · pharmacological · negates · cancels
provokes
Incites a reaction
- irritatesProvokes mild anger
- annoysCauses petty irritation
- aggravatesMakes more severe
needles · goads · riles · baits · pesters · taunts · winds up · gets under skin · rubs wrong way · vexes
opposes
Acts in resistance
- resistsActively withstands force
- countersSurfaces, talliers, or chips
- conflictsSerious disagreements or fights
clashes · defies · challenges · confronts · contradicts · obstructs · thwarts · undermines · sabotages · crosses
inhibits
Slows or prevents action
- blocksObstructs or sections
- counteractsNeutralizes an opposing force
- neutralizesRemoves effect or danger
opposes · receptor · suppresses · interferes · binds · competing · pharmacological · negates · cancels · reverses
alienates
Causes emotional withdrawal
- estrangesCauses emotional separation
- offendsCauses displeasure or resentment
- distancesSpaces between locations
repels · turns off · puts off · disaffects · marginalizes · excludes · isolates · divides · polarizes · drives away
- dopamine antagonistBlocks neurotransmitter binding sites
antagonist, antagonism, antagonistic, antagonists, antagonise, antagonised, antagonising