as in aggressive
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight
clearly a writer with a chip on his shoulder, he's very agonistic even when stating indisputable facts
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Recent Examples of agonistic
The kitchen remains bloody and agonistic, demanding the preparation of yet another family meal.
—
E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 14 July 2023
The agonistic, Faulknerian circumstances fill the house with awful silences.
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 21 Dec. 2022
The Red Queen is about eternal recurrence of the agonistic dance between organisms.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 21 Apr. 2011
Finally, serial attacks may signal the agonistic potential of a family to other flock members.
—Ncbi Rofl, Discover Magazine, 11 July 2012
Serial agonistic attacks by greylag goose families, Anser anser, against the same opponent.
—Ncbi Rofl, Discover Magazine, 11 July 2012
But the drive, the bile, the essential, agonistic spirit that powers the greatest rock music and serves as the source of its creativity will almost certainly be lacking.
—Damon Linker, The Week, 4 Sep. 2021
This agonistic version of the fact-value distinction leaves us with an impoverished ideal of social interaction.
—Peter E. Gordon, The New York Review of Books, 19 Nov. 2020
E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 14 July 2023
The agonistic, Faulknerian circumstances fill the house with awful silences.
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 21 Dec. 2022
The Red Queen is about eternal recurrence of the agonistic dance between organisms.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 21 Apr. 2011
Finally, serial attacks may signal the agonistic potential of a family to other flock members.
—Ncbi Rofl, Discover Magazine, 11 July 2012
Serial agonistic attacks by greylag goose families, Anser anser, against the same opponent.
—Ncbi Rofl, Discover Magazine, 11 July 2012
But the drive, the bile, the essential, agonistic spirit that powers the greatest rock music and serves as the source of its creativity will almost certainly be lacking.
—Damon Linker, The Week, 4 Sep. 2021
This agonistic version of the fact-value distinction leaves us with an impoverished ideal of social interaction.
—Peter E. Gordon, The New York Review of Books, 19 Nov. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agonistic
Adjective
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Instead, her life was turned upside down last week after President Donald Trump’s administration began instituting mass layoffs as part of an aggressive effort to trim the federal workforce.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA TODAY,
17 Feb. 2025
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Beef, coffee and orange juice are among groceries with higher prices, but eggs are uniquely affected by the aggressive strain of avian flu, which has strained supply.—
Dakin Andone,
CNN,
16 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The militant group also accused Israel of delaying the entry of essential medicines and hospital supplies, as well as not allowing tents, prefabricated houses, fuel, or rubble-removing machines into Gaza.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN,
11 Feb. 2025
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The militant group accused Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement by targeting refugees with airstrikes, delaying the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza, and restricting humanitarian aid.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
11 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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But several of Barker’s best moments and best performances have come in high-pressure games or in hostile atmospheres.—
Oliver Kay,
The Athletic,
8 Feb. 2025
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Rubio said Wednesday Trump's plan wasn't meant as a hostile move, but was one people need to think about.—
Marc Caputo,
Axios,
6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Leonard Peltier, one of the surviving leaders of the American Indian Movement, has been in prison for 50 years following a contentious conviction.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
10 Feb. 2025
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Coming off a contentious last couple weeks for his film’s awards campaign, Audiard had a more light-hearted opportunity to reflect on his Best Picture nominee.—
Vincent Perella,
IndieWire,
9 Feb. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Agonistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agonistic. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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