antagonize

The plan could result in putting more U.S. troops closer to the Russian border, an outcome likely to antagonize Moscow.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 8, 2026

The former official asked not to be named because they work in public health and don’t want to antagonize the current administration.

From Salon ● Apr. 4, 2026

Which prompts the question: Why would companies that in theory couldn’t afford to antagonize their customers take this tack anyway?

From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2025

“Halfrican” explores the theme of “in between-ness” and encourages viewers to antagonize preconceived notions of identity.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 3, 2024

I wish I could ask God to give me another personality, one that doesn’t antagonize everyone.

From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank

However, naltrexone, in both short- and long-acting forms, has the opposite pharmacology: it antagonizes mu receptors, occupying them without activating them.

From Scientific American ● Sep. 13, 2023

It all makes for a slight but satisfying Gru origin story, as the budding baddie tries to impress the Vicious 6 and antagonizes Arkin’s vengeful Wild Knuckles along the way.

From Washington Post ● Jun. 28, 2022

I enjoy art that antagonizes you, and then, slowly, in an emotional striptease, reveals a gooey, loving center.

From New York Times ● Mar. 17, 2022

By lambasting her, he pointlessly antagonizes those voters.

From Slate ● Sep. 30, 2020

Nothing worries and antagonizes a female bear more than to have people between her and her brood.

From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson

But Adeyemi describes suffering somatic pain and panic attacks, alleging she is still being antagonized behind the scenes.

From Salon ● Jul. 31, 2026

Some also contend the deal has unnecessarily antagonized China, Australia’s main trading partner.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2025

So, people who are sophisticated litigators often don’t do that because it so often fails, and all you’re left with is an angered and antagonized judge who you’ve just called biased.

From Slate ● Apr. 11, 2024

Instead, he says, the experiment merely shows that, when antagonized the snakes are likely to put up a more spirited defense.

From Science Magazine ● Apr. 3, 2024

Fyntan and Celine must have been alarmed by our misguided outpost in Kilanga, where we slept in their same house, antagonized their former friends, even turned their parrot out to nature’s maw.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

Meta’s new Muse is already inspiring some people—and antagonizing others.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026

He did so to avoid antagonizing parts of the political and religious establishment that categorically reject hereditary or dynastic succession.

From Salon ● Mar. 6, 2026

And, two, how did the Ottawa captain feel about the White House posting an A.I.-generated video on its TikTok account that purported to show Tkachuk antagonizing the country where he works?

From Slate ● Feb. 27, 2026

She needs to maintain her popular tough stance on China without overly antagonizing Japan’s No. 2 customer for exports.

From Barron's ● Feb. 10, 2026

I was not afraid, because Togbe had taught me that most animals only attacked if threatened, and out here I had a chance to meet them without anyone else antagonizing them.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo