What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
confrontational
Example
She had a confrontational attitude towards her boss and often argued with him. [confrontational: adjective]
Example
He was confrontationally questioning the speaker during the Q&A session. [confrontationally: adverb]
antagonistic
Example
His antagonistic behavior towards his coworkers made it difficult to work with him. [antagonistic: adjective]
Example
She responded in an antagonistic manner to his suggestion, causing tension in the meeting. [antagonistically: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Confrontational is more commonly used than antagonistic in everyday language. Confrontational behavior is often seen as necessary or assertive in certain situations, while antagonistic behavior is almost always seen as negative or harmful.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between confrontational and antagonistic?
Both confrontational and antagonistic are generally considered informal words. However, confrontational can be used in more formal contexts when describing a necessary or assertive behavior, while antagonistic is less versatile and is mostly used in informal contexts.
