agonistic Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective of or relating to the athletic contests held in ancient Greece
  2. adjective satellite striving to overcome in argument
    combative; agonistical.
    • a dialectical and agonistic approach
  3. adjective satellite struggling for effect
    strained.
    • agonistic poses

WordNet

Ag`o*nis"tic, Ag`o*nis"tic*al adjective (Also<
  • Agonistic
  • Agonistical
)
Etymology
Gr. . See Agonism.
Definitions
  1. Pertaining to violent contests, bodily or mental; pertaining to athletic or polemic feats; athletic; combative; hence, strained; unnatural.
    As a scholar, he [Dr. Parr] was brilliant, but he consumed his power in agonistic displays. De Quincey.

Webster 1913