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Glite Dictionary
agonistically

agonistically

9.5
In a way that shows conflict or competition
  • adverb
  • /ˌæɡəˈnɪstɪkli/
  • Formal
: agonísticamente
  • During the debate, both candidates argued agonistically, with each striving to outdo the other.

Examples

  • Only gradually, not to say agonistically, has the spirit of conflict transformed Taiwanese democracy from pure propaganda into procedural and cultural reality.

    Academic text (2007)

  • As a "capitulation to cinema" and a way of making objects that engage "reality" and "the actual" through "means of presentation that are anti-illusionistic," montage connects Berlin Dada agonistically to traditions of painting and, at the same time, structures its destruction of the cult of art.

    Academic text (2003)

  • The teams competed agonistically in the championship, pushing each other to their limits.

  • The athletes trained agonistically for the upcoming tournament, determined to be the best.

Synonyms

antagonistically
vsagonistically
1 8.1

In a way that shows anger and strong disagreement

expresses conflict or competition without necessarily hostile intent

How Combative

aggressively
128 4.9
agonistically
  • Formal
9.5
competitively
13 3.7
peacefully
120 1.3

Surface Forms

agonistically positive

Morphology

agonistically = agonistic (semi-transparent) = agon + istic + ally

The suffix 'ally' clearly indicates an adverbial form, but the root 'agon' may not be familiar to all learners.

Etymology

The word agonistically comes from the Greek root agon, which means 'contest' or 'struggle', and you can see the same root in antagonist (an opponent). So agonistically describes acting in a competitive, fighting way.