The Opposite(Antonym) of “agonist”
The antonyms of agonist are antagonist and inhibitor. These words have opposite meanings in the context of biological processes and pharmacology.
Explore all Antonyms of “agonist”
Definitions and Examples of antagonist, inhibitor
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
A substance that blocks or inhibits the action of another substance.
Example
The drug acts as an antagonist by preventing the neurotransmitter from binding to its receptor.
A substance that slows down or prevents a chemical reaction or biological process.
Example
The enzyme inhibitor reduces the rate of the metabolic reaction.
Key Differences: antagonist vs inhibitor
- 1Antagonist specifically refers to a substance that blocks or inhibits the action of another substance, while inhibitor is a more general term that can refer to any substance that slows down or prevents a chemical reaction or biological process.
- 2Antagonist and agonist are complementary antonyms, meaning they have opposite effects on the same process. Inhibitor is a relational antonym, meaning it describes a substance that has a different effect on a process.
Effective Usage of antagonist, inhibitor
- 1Pharmacology: Use agonist and antagonist to describe the effects of drugs on biological processes.
- 2Chemistry: Use inhibitor to describe substances that slow down or prevent chemical reactions.
- 3Biology: Use these antonyms to describe the interactions between molecules and biological processes.
Remember this!
The antonyms of agonist are antagonist and inhibitor. Antagonist specifically refers to a substance that blocks or inhibits the action of another substance, while inhibitor is a more general term that can refer to any substance that slows down or prevents a chemical reaction or biological process. Use these antonyms in pharmacology, chemistry, and biology to describe the effects of drugs and interactions between molecules.
