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

As was the lesson of “Saltburn,” never antagonize a minion.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 11, 2026

Of course, any American has the right to criticize judges but defendants usually don't do it because generally it's a bad idea to unnecessarily antagonize someone who has such power over your life.

From Salon ● Mar. 19, 2025

“When we are fighting for our survival, we can’t afford to antagonize either Biden or Trump,” Mr. Merezhko said.

From New York Times ● Apr. 19, 2024

The young mouse approached the sparrow with trepidation, not wanting to antagonize the moody, dangerous bird.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques

“He antagonizes me on Twitter,” he said to a bystander, in an attempt to pass me off a second time.

From Slate ● Aug. 21, 2024

Instead the city is pursuing a policy that further antagonizes landlords and sends tenants the message that they might be able to get away with not paying rent if they fight hard enough.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 13, 2024

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

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

Neither side was eager to prolong a battle that antagonized customers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2024

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

He was deeply antagonized by these men, but he knew they were simply carrying out a job assigned to them.

From "Across Five Aprils" by Irene Hunt

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

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026

Bargatze catapulted to mainstream status after portraying a silly version of the famously reprehensible though widely respected George Washington on “SNL” without antagonizing anyone, least of all Washington.

From Salon ● Sep. 8, 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

In it, more realities of the killing are clarified: Good wasn’t antagonizing the agent, and she didn’t turn her wheels to try to hit him, but instead to drive away slowly.

From Slate ● Jan. 13, 2026

Terryl felt like her mother blamed her for antagonizing Danny, and making things worse.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel