antagonist
Hero's chief rival
An antagonist is someone who opposes or contends against another—the adversary in a conflict.
In storytelling, the antagonist works against the protagonist: The antagonist in the novel was more compelling than the hero.
In physiology, an antagonist muscle opposes the action of another, and an antagonist drug blocks a receptor's normal response.
Wicked story antagonist
- nemesisPersistent source of ruin
- adversaryEnemy in conflict
- deuteragonistSecond most central character
- archetypeOriginal model for copies
foil · character · hero · heroine · conflict · plot · tension · rivalry
Hostile opposing party
- foeHostile opponent
- adversaryEnemy in conflict
- opponentOne who contends against
- combatantOne who fights
aggressor · assailant · belligerent · invader · hostile · threat · opposition · clash
One who competes against
- opponentOne who contends against
- competitorOne striving against others
- contenderOne competing seriously
- adversaryEnemy in conflict
challenger · contestant · duelist · finalist · underdog · sparring · matchup · contest
Signal-receiving molecule
- inhibitorAgent that slows reactions
- blockerSomething that obstructs
- moleculeBonded atomic group
- bindingLegally or morally required
enzyme · protein · channel · competitive · noncompetitive · pharmacology · drug · ligand
Obstruction preventing passage
- hindranceBarrier to progress
- impedimentThing that obstructs progress
- hurdleBarrier to leap over
- roadblockObstruction across a road
stumbling block · obstruction · setback · complication · interference · constraint · limitation · restriction
Agent enhancing combined effect
- flexorMuscle that bends joints
- extensorJoint-opening muscle
- bicepsUpper arm flexors
- tricepsThree-headed arm muscle
contraction · relaxation · opposition · resistance · movement · tension · inhibition · reciprocal
villain
Wicked story antagonist
- nemesisPersistent source of ruin
- adversaryEnemy in conflict
- deuteragonistSecond most central character
archetype · foil · character · hero · heroine · conflict · plot · tension · rivalry · confrontation
enemy
Hostile opposing party
combatant · aggressor · assailant · belligerent · invader · hostile · threat · opposition · clash · confrontation
rival
One who competes against
- opponentOne who contends against
- competitorOne striving against others
- contenderOne competing seriously
adversary · challenger · contestant · duelist · finalist · underdog · sparring · matchup · contest · race
receptor
Signal-receiving molecule
binding · enzyme · protein · channel · competitive · noncompetitive · pharmacology · drug · ligand · affinity
barrier
Obstruction preventing passage
- hindranceBarrier to progress
- impedimentThing that obstructs progress
- hurdleBarrier to leap over
roadblock · stumbling block · obstruction · setback · complication · interference · constraint · limitation · restriction · deterrent
synergist
Agent enhancing combined effect
triceps · contraction · relaxation · opposition · resistance · movement · tension · inhibition · reciprocal · pair
- literaturebooks, book, fiction, poetry, stories
- theatreBroadway, acting, theatre, stage, actor
- rivalriesenemy, nemesis, derby, opponent, competitor
- charactershero, character, characters, villain, heroine
- literary analysisliterary analysis, character analysis, book review, plot, critical analysis
- bulliesbully, intimidator, tormentor, tormenter, harasser
antagonistprotagonist
Story's central figure
hero · main character · heroine · champion · good guy
- dopamine antagonistBlocks neurotransmitter binding sites
antagonism, antagonize, antagonistic, antagonized, antagonizes, antagonizing, antagonists, antagonistically, antagonizer