antagonizes
Picks a fight
Antagonizes means to provoke hostility or opposition in someone.
Where annoy suggests mild irritation, antagonize implies making an enemy or turning someone against you: His condescending tone antagonized everyone in the room.
The word often carries a sense of needless provocation—antagonizing someone you'll need to work with later is unwise.
Incites a reaction
- irritatesProvokes mild anger
- aggravatesMakes more severe
- angersProvokes to wrath
- infuriatesMakes extremely angry
goads · needles · baits · taunts · riles · incites · enrages · offends
Acts in resistance
- resistsActively withstands force
- defiesOpenly resists or challenges
- obstructsBlocks or hinders
- thwartsFrustrates or blocks
sabotages · undermines · subverts · dissents · rebels · protests · agitates · mobilizes
Those who intimidate others
- harassesPersistently torments another
- pestersAnnoys persistently
- bothersCauses irritation or disturbance
- annoysCauses petty irritation
torments · picks on · teases · mocks · belittles · demeans · undermines · alienates
Slows or prevents action
- blocksObstructs or sections
- counteractsNeutralizes an opposing force
- opposesActs in resistance
- neutralizesRemoves effect or danger
receptor · drug · compound · binding · suppresses · interferes · pharmacology · molecule
provokes
Incites a reaction
- irritatesProvokes mild anger
- aggravatesMakes more severe
- angersProvokes to wrath
infuriates · goads · needles · baits · taunts · riles · incites · enrages · offends · insults
opposes
Acts in resistance
thwarts · sabotages · undermines · subverts · dissents · rebels · protests · agitates · mobilizes · polarizes
bullies
Those who intimidate others
- harassesPersistently torments another
- pestersAnnoys persistently
- bothersCauses irritation or disturbance
annoys · torments · picks on · teases · mocks · belittles · demeans · undermines · alienates · estranges
inhibits
Slows or prevents action
- blocksObstructs or sections
- counteractsNeutralizes an opposing force
- opposesActs in resistance
neutralizes · receptor · drug · compound · binding · suppresses · interferes · pharmacology · molecule · competitive
antagonizesbefriends
Forms a companionship
conciliates · appeases · placates · pacifies · mollifies
antagonizessupports
Sustains or reinforces
agrees with · assists · helps · backs · sides with
antagonize, antagonized, antagonizing, antagonizer, antagonization, antagonizers