agonist

ag·o·nist
A1G2O1N1I1S1T1
/ˈæɡəˌnɪst//ˈeɪ̯ɡəˌnɪst/

noun

Someone involved in a contest or battle (as in an agon), protagonist.

“When bending the elbow, the biceps is the agonist.”

Similar
protagonist
Opposite
antagonist
OriginLatin agōnista ← Ancient Greek ἀγωνιστής →
Less commonScrabble 8
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Meanings

nounagonist (plural agonists)

plural agonists

  1. Someone involved in a contest or battle (as in an agon), protagonist.
  2. The muscle that contracts while the other relaxes.

    When bending the elbow, the biceps is the agonist.

  3. biochemistryA molecule that can combine with a receptor on a cell to produce a physiological reaction.

    Acetylcholine is an agonist at the cholinergic receptor.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounthe principal character in a work of fiction

Similar
protagonist
Broader
fictional characterfictitious charactercharacter

nounsomeone involved in a contest or battle (as in an agon)

Opposite
antagonist
Broader
contestant
Also see
competitorprotagonist

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekἀγωνιστής“combatant, champion”
  2. Latinagōnista
  3. Englishagonist

Borrowed from Latin agōnista, from Ancient Greek ἀγωνιστής (agōnistḗs, “combatant, champion”). By surface analysis, agon or agony + -ist.

More words from Latin, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 激動劑 /激动剂, 拮抗劑 /拮抗剂
  • 激動劑 /激动剂 (jīdòngjì)molecule that can combine with a receptor on a cell
  • 拮抗劑 /拮抗剂 (jiékàngjì)molecule that can combine with a receptor on a cell
Czech agonista
  • agonistamolecule that can combine with a receptor on a cell
Esperanto agonisto
  • agonistomolecule that can combine with a receptor on a cell
Finnish taistelija, vaikuttajalihas
  • taistelijasomeone involved in a contest or battle
  • vaikuttajalihasa muscle that contracts while another relaxes
  • agonistia muscle that contracts while another relaxes
  • agonistimolecule that can combine with a receptor on a cell
Indonesian agonis, agonis
  • agonisa muscle that contracts while another relaxes
  • agonismolecule that can combine with a receptor on a cell
Korean 작용제
  • 작용제 (jagyongje)molecule that can combine with a receptor on a cell
Polish agonista, agonistka
  • agonistasomeone involved in a contest or battle
  • agonistkasomeone involved in a contest or battle
  • agonistamolecule that can combine with a receptor on a cell
Portuguese agonista, agonista
  • agonistasomeone involved in a contest or battle
  • agonistaa muscle that contracts while another relaxes
  • agonistamolecule that can combine with a receptor on a cell
Swedish agonist
  • agonistmolecule that can combine with a receptor on a cell
Cite this entry
APA

agonist. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/agonist

MLA

“agonist.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/agonist. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “agonist,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/agonist.

Source: agonist on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.