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Antagonist vs Archenemy - What's the difference?

antagonist | archenemy |

As nouns the difference between antagonist and archenemy

is that antagonist is an opponent or enemy while archenemy is a principal enemy.

antagonist

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • An opponent or enemy.
  • * Milton
    • antagonist of Heaven's Almighty King
  • * Hooker
    • our antagonists in these controversies
  • One who antagonizes or stirs.
  • (biochemistry) A chemical that binds to a receptor but does not produce a physiological response, blocking the action of agonist chemicals.
  • * 2001': The calcium '''antagonists represent one of the top ten classes of prescription drugs in terms of commercial value, with worldwide sales of nearly $10 billion in 1999. — Leslie Iversen, ''Drugs: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford 2001, p. 41)
  • The main character or force opposing the protagonist in a literary work or drama.
  • (anatomy) A muscle that acts in opposition to another.
    • A flexor, which bends a part, is the antagonist of an extensor, which extends it.

    Antonyms

    * protagonist * agonist (biochemistry)

    Related terms

    () * agonistes * antagonise, antagonize * antagonism * receptor antagonist

    Anagrams

    *

    archenemy

    English

    Alternative forms

    * arch-enemy

    Noun

    (archenemies)
  • a principal enemy

    • Synonyms

    * (l)

    See also

    * (l) * (l)