I. |agə|nistik adjective
also ag·o·nis·ti·cal -tə̇kəl
Etymology: Late Latin agonisticus of a contest, from Greek agōnistikos fit for combat, contentious, from agōnistēs + -ikos -ic, -ical
1. : of or relating to the athletic contests of ancient Greece
agonistic inscriptions
2. : seeking to overcome in discussion or debate : argumentative
a dialectical and agonistic approach to knowledge
3. : striving for effect : strained
agonistic poses
• ag·o·nis·ti·cal·ly -tə̇k(ə)lē adverb
II. adjective
: of, relating to, or being aggressive or defensive social interaction (as fighting, fleeing, or submitting) between individuals usually of the same species
agonistic behavior