Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'antagonistic'

English Word: antagonistic

Key Russian Translations:

• Антагонистический /ɐntəɡəˈnʲistʲɪt͡ɕɪskʲɪj/ - [Formal, Academic]
• Враждебный /vrɐʐˈdʲebnɨj/ - [Informal, Everyday]
• Противоположный /prətʲivəˈpɐləʐnɨj/ - [Neutral, Contextual]

Frequency: Medium - This word and its translations are commonly used in formal discussions, literature, and psychology, but less so in casual conversation.

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate) - Requires familiarity with Russian adjectives and loanwords; 'Антагонистический' may be more challenging due to its foreign origin, while 'Враждебный' is slightly easier for intermediate learners.

Pronunciation (Russian):

Антагонистический: /ɐntəɡəˈnʲistʲɪt͡ɕɪskʲɪj/ - Stress on the fourth syllable; note the palatalized 'т' sound, which can be tricky for English speakers.

Note on Антагонистический: This word is a direct borrowing from English/Greek, so pronunciation closely mirrors the original, but Russians may soften consonants. Avoid overemphasizing the 'g' sound.

Враждебный: /vrɐʐˈdʲebnɨj/ - Stress on the second syllable; the 'ж' is a voiced fricative, similar to 'zh' in 'measure'.

Противоположный: /prətʲivəˈpɐləʐnɨj/ - Stress on the third syllable; pay attention to the vowel reductions in unstressed positions, common in Russian.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Showing opposition or hostility, often in interpersonal or ideological contexts.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Антагонистический - Used in formal or academic settings, such as describing conflicting ideas in philosophy or politics.
• Враждебный - Applied in everyday situations involving personal animosity or conflict.
• Противоположный - More neutral, for situations involving simple opposition without strong emotion.

Usage Examples:

• Его антагонистический подход к переговорам помешал достижению соглашения.

  His antagonistic approach to negotiations hindered reaching an agreement.

• Враждебный тон в её письме ясно указывал на конфликт.

  The hostile tone in her letter clearly indicated conflict.

• Противоположные взгляды на эту тему сделали дискуссию интересной.

  The opposing views on this topic made the discussion interesting.

• Антагонистические силы в обществе часто приводят к социальным изменениям.

  Antagonistic forces in society often lead to social changes.

• Его враждебный взгляд заставил меня чувствовать дискомфорт на встрече.

  His hostile gaze made me feel uncomfortable at the meeting.

Meaning 2: In a broader sense, indicating inherent conflict or contradiction, such as in literature or science.

Translation(s) & Context:

• Антагонистический - Common in literary analysis, e.g., describing character dynamics.
• Противоположный - Used in scientific contexts for contradictory elements.

Usage Examples:

• В романе главный герой представляет антагонистический элемент по отношению к обществу.

  In the novel, the main character represents an antagonistic element in relation to society.

• Противоположные теории эволюции и креационизма часто обсуждаются в биологии.

  Opposing theories of evolution and creationism are often discussed in biology.

• Её антагонистическое поведение в фильме подчеркивает тему борьбы.

  Her antagonistic behavior in the film emphasizes the theme of struggle.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations are adjectives, which inflect based on gender, number, and case in Russian. They follow standard adjectival patterns, with some irregularities due to their roots.

Note: These adjectives are regular in most cases but may vary slightly in poetic or archaic usage. They do not have irregular forms like some verbs.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Неприязненный (nepriyaznennyy) - Similar to враждебный but with a focus on dislike.
  • Конфликтный (konfliktnyy) - Emphasizes conflict more than outright hostility.
• Antonyms:
  • Дружеский (druzheskiy) - Friendly, cooperative.
  • Поддерживающий (podderzhivayushchiy) - Supportive, aligning.

Related Phrases:

• Антагонистические отношения - Antagonistic relations; used to describe hostile interpersonal dynamics.
• Враждебная атмосфера - Hostile atmosphere; refers to a tense environment in social or professional settings.
• Противоположные интересы - Opposing interests; common in negotiations or politics.

Usage Notes:

Антагонистический is a direct loanword, making it ideal for formal English-to-Russian translations, but in everyday Russian, враждебный or противоположный might be more natural. Be mindful of context: use антагонистический in academic or literary discussions, while враждебный suits emotional conflicts. Grammatically, these adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify, which is a key difference from English. When choosing among translations, opt for противоположный if the opposition is intellectual rather than emotional.

Common Errors:

• Confusing антагонистический with враждебный: Learners might overuse антагонистический in casual speech, where враждебный is more appropriate. Error: "Он антагонистический ко мне" (incorrect for informal use). Correct: "Он враждебный ко мне." Explanation: Антагонистический sounds overly formal and can make the speaker seem pretentious.
• Forgetting adjectival agreement: English speakers often neglect case changes. Error: "В враждебный ситуация" (should be "В враждебной ситуации"). Correct: Ensure the adjective matches the noun's case. Explanation: Russian requires full agreement, unlike English, so always check the noun's form.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, words like враждебный often carry connotations from literature, such as in the works of Dostoevsky, where antagonistic relationships reflect deeper societal conflicts. This reflects Russia's historical emphasis on philosophical and ideological struggles, making these terms more prevalent in discussions of social dynamics than in Western contexts.

Related Concepts:

• Конфликт (konflikt)
• Оппозиция (oppozitsiya)
• Противостояние (protivostoyanie)