Antagonist
noun
A character in a story who opposes the main character.
In the Harry Potter series, Lord Voldemort is the antagonist.
Often appears as...
- main antagonist
- primary antagonist
Usage tips
Literary
noun
A person who actively opposes or is hostile to someone or something.
He became my biggest antagonist after I took the job he wanted.
Often appears as...
- political antagonist
- personal antagonist
noun
A substance that interferes with or inhibits the physiological action of another.
Beta blockers are antagonists that prevent adrenaline from acting on the heart.
Often appears as...
- drug antagonist
- receptor antagonist
Usage tips
Technical
noun
A character in a story who opposes the main character.
In the Harry Potter series, Lord Voldemort is the antagonist.
Often appears as...
- main antagonist
- primary antagonist
Usage tips
Literary
noun
A person who actively opposes or is hostile to someone or something.
He became my biggest antagonist after I took the job he wanted.
Often appears as...
- political antagonist
- personal antagonist
noun
A substance that interferes with or inhibits the physiological action of another.
Beta blockers are antagonists that prevent adrenaline from acting on the heart.
Often appears as...
- drug antagonist
- receptor antagonist
Usage tips
Technical
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Story Conflicts
Antagonists create tension by challenging the hero's goals.
The antagonist often has contrasting values or goals compared to the protagonist.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Always Evil
Antagonists are not always villains; they might just have conflicting interests.
In some stories, the antagonist might actually have sympathetic qualities.
Pro Tip 3/3Cultural Awareness
Antagonists reflect cultural beliefs about right and wrong, which can vary.
An antagonist's motives can be understood differently across cultures.
Pro Tip 1/3Story Conflicts
Antagonists create tension by challenging the hero's goals.
The antagonist often has contrasting values or goals compared to the protagonist.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Always Evil
Antagonists are not always villains; they might just have conflicting interests.
In some stories, the antagonist might actually have sympathetic qualities.
Pro Tip 3/3Cultural Awareness
Antagonists reflect cultural beliefs about right and wrong, which can vary.
An antagonist's motives can be understood differently across cultures.
Pro Tip 1/3Story Conflicts
Antagonists create tension by challenging the hero's goals.
The antagonist often has contrasting values or goals compared to the protagonist.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Always Evil
Antagonists are not always villains; they might just have conflicting interests.
In some stories, the antagonist might actually have sympathetic qualities.
Pro Tip 3/3Cultural Awareness
Antagonists reflect cultural beliefs about right and wrong, which can vary.
An antagonist's motives can be understood differently across cultures.
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Video examples
Saving Manatees: What It...
trips are impacting the animals we don't we don't catch um antagonists in areas that don't have threats so it's only the heroes that are massively developed heavily trafficked and causing serious impact to their species otherwise i guess you would have no real reason to track them um
Video examples
The emergence of drama...
worldly flesh, and the devil became the antagonists. The morality plays were allegorical stories in which these characters battled for the control of the soul. Audiences loved the immoral characters, and spectators were encouraged to interact with the actors. Throwing rotten food
Video examples
The pattern behind...
that are used to eliminate psychotic behavior, things like paranoia, delusions and hallucinations, these are patternicities. They're incorrect patterns. They're false positives. They're Type I errors. And if you give them drugs that are dopamine antagonists, they go away.
Video examples
How we'll become cyborgs...
an agonist linked to an antagonist. When the agonist contracts upon electrical activation, it stretches the antagonist. This muscle dynamic interaction causes biological sensors within the muscle tendon to send information through the nerve to the central nervous system,
Video examples
An anti-hero of one's...
Luke Skywalker, or Hiccup, until we reach the bottom and meet the anti-hero. Contrary to the sound, the anti-hero is not the villain, not the antagonist. The anti-hero is actually the main character in some contemporary works of literature.
Video examples
This is what democracy...
He has horns, tusks, crossed eyes, braided hair. He obviously spends a lot of time on that hair. Justice now lies helpless at his feet, shackled. Her scales have been severed. Justice is the key antagonist to the Tyrant,
Video examples
Photographer Danny Lyon...
from a world presented by life and look and very present in his time of photography films and books he is still there today at large always the protagonist sometimes the antagonist and always at work on a
Video examples
How does caffeine keep...
that cause neurons to fire more sluggishly and slow the release of important brain-signaling molecules. In other words, you get sleepy. Caffeine is what's called an adenosine receptor antagonist.
Video examples
This Tiny Beetle Is...
people look at the mountain pine beetle like the antagonists the bad guy but really it's just an organism doing what it does the outbreaks in the past have been regenerative they actually help
Video examples
Zoo Quest For A Dragon...
now comes the barong's main antagonist held by
Video examples
Saving Manatees: What It...
trips are impacting the animals we don't we don't catch um antagonists in areas that don't have threats so it's only the heroes that are massively developed heavily trafficked and causing serious impact to their species otherwise i guess you would have no real reason to track them um
Video examples
The emergence of drama...
worldly flesh, and the devil became the antagonists. The morality plays were allegorical stories in which these characters battled for the control of the soul. Audiences loved the immoral characters, and spectators were encouraged to interact with the actors. Throwing rotten food
Video examples
The pattern behind...
that are used to eliminate psychotic behavior, things like paranoia, delusions and hallucinations, these are patternicities. They're incorrect patterns. They're false positives. They're Type I errors. And if you give them drugs that are dopamine antagonists, they go away.
Video examples
How we'll become cyborgs...
an agonist linked to an antagonist. When the agonist contracts upon electrical activation, it stretches the antagonist. This muscle dynamic interaction causes biological sensors within the muscle tendon to send information through the nerve to the central nervous system,
Video examples
An anti-hero of one's...
Luke Skywalker, or Hiccup, until we reach the bottom and meet the anti-hero. Contrary to the sound, the anti-hero is not the villain, not the antagonist. The anti-hero is actually the main character in some contemporary works of literature.
Video examples
This is what democracy...
He has horns, tusks, crossed eyes, braided hair. He obviously spends a lot of time on that hair. Justice now lies helpless at his feet, shackled. Her scales have been severed. Justice is the key antagonist to the Tyrant,
Video examples
Photographer Danny Lyon...
from a world presented by life and look and very present in his time of photography films and books he is still there today at large always the protagonist sometimes the antagonist and always at work on a
Video examples
How does caffeine keep...
that cause neurons to fire more sluggishly and slow the release of important brain-signaling molecules. In other words, you get sleepy. Caffeine is what's called an adenosine receptor antagonist.
Video examples
This Tiny Beetle Is...
people look at the mountain pine beetle like the antagonists the bad guy but really it's just an organism doing what it does the outbreaks in the past have been regenerative they actually help
Video examples
Zoo Quest For A Dragon...
now comes the barong's main antagonist held by
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Paul Heyman
American Producer
The whole concept of ECW was that the biggest star of the promotion was the promotion itself. It didn't matter if a persona was designed to elicit cheers or boos. It didn't matter if someone was an antagonist or protagonist. The whole concept was to fight for the honor of the cause. The cause was ECW itself.
Quote examples
John Wozniak
American Musician
The way I wanted to write it, is with a hero, or sort of a pure character who was the protagonist. And the antagonists were these demonic evil children, cause when you're a kid, seven or eight years old, and you're looking at the world around you - everything seems black or white, good or bad.
Quote examples
Kay Kay Menon
Indian Actor
I don't understand when people say character actors. You either have the protagonist or the antagonist and I've played both. It's an actor's role to play a character. Does that mean that main stream heroes and heroines are characterless?
Quote examples
Paul Haggis
Canadian Director
I'm a filmmaker, and I was most influenced by Hitchcock's films. How he could plant such deep enriched characters and then make us care both about the antagonist and protagonist was masterful.
Quote examples
Rana Daggubati
Indian Actor
Each character, be it the antagonist or the protagonist, brings with himself his own personality... and I have tried to stay true to each one of them; each is enjoyable in their own way!
Quote examples
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Irish Playwright
Remember that when you meet your antagonist, to do everything in a mild agreeable manner. Let your courage be keen, but, at the same time, as polished as your sword.
Quote examples
James Comey
American Public Servant
People view the police not as allies, but as antagonists, and think of them not with respect or gratitude, but with suspicion and distrust.
Quote examples
Puneet Issar
Indian Actor
Indian mythology and its characters have always fascinated me and I find the antagonists especially very interesting.
Quote examples
Edmund Burke
Irish Statesman
He that struggles with us strengthens our nerves, and sharpens our skill. Our antagonist is our helper.
Quote examples
Bryan Konietzko
American Director
We want our villains and antagonists to have distinct motivations.
Quote examples
Paul Heyman
American Producer
The whole concept of ECW was that the biggest star of the promotion was the promotion itself. It didn't matter if a persona was designed to elicit cheers or boos. It didn't matter if someone was an antagonist or protagonist. The whole concept was to fight for the honor of the cause. The cause was ECW itself.
Quote examples
John Wozniak
American Musician
The way I wanted to write it, is with a hero, or sort of a pure character who was the protagonist. And the antagonists were these demonic evil children, cause when you're a kid, seven or eight years old, and you're looking at the world around you - everything seems black or white, good or bad.
Quote examples
Kay Kay Menon
Indian Actor
I don't understand when people say character actors. You either have the protagonist or the antagonist and I've played both. It's an actor's role to play a character. Does that mean that main stream heroes and heroines are characterless?
Quote examples
Paul Haggis
Canadian Director
I'm a filmmaker, and I was most influenced by Hitchcock's films. How he could plant such deep enriched characters and then make us care both about the antagonist and protagonist was masterful.
Quote examples
Rana Daggubati
Indian Actor
Each character, be it the antagonist or the protagonist, brings with himself his own personality... and I have tried to stay true to each one of them; each is enjoyable in their own way!
Quote examples
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Irish Playwright
Remember that when you meet your antagonist, to do everything in a mild agreeable manner. Let your courage be keen, but, at the same time, as polished as your sword.
Quote examples
James Comey
American Public Servant
People view the police not as allies, but as antagonists, and think of them not with respect or gratitude, but with suspicion and distrust.
Quote examples
Puneet Issar
Indian Actor
Indian mythology and its characters have always fascinated me and I find the antagonists especially very interesting.
Quote examples
Edmund Burke
Irish Statesman
He that struggles with us strengthens our nerves, and sharpens our skill. Our antagonist is our helper.
Quote examples
Bryan Konietzko
American Director
We want our villains and antagonists to have distinct motivations.
Example 1 of 10
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