What Do “Protagonist” and “Antagonist” Mean?

Writing a story is no easy feat. But knowing what the terms protagonist and antagonist mean can help ensure strong character development. And even if you aren’t working on a creative project, understanding these words can enhance your vocabulary, enabling more effective communication. 

Below, we’ll cover what protagonist and antagonist mean and provide examples to help you get a clearer picture. 

Let’s begin!

What Is a “Protagonist”? (With Examples)

The word protagonist carries a few definitions, although all similar. In storytelling, a protagonist is the main character who faces the most obstacles and whose decisions influence and progress the plot.

In my literature class, we debated who is the best fictional protagonist of all time. 

When people hear the word protagonist, they often think of one specific type—the hero or heroine of the story, like Superman or Wonder Woman. Although protagonists are typically the heroes of the narratives, there are a few other types of protagonists. 

Antihero

An antihero (or antiheroine) protagonist is the story’s main character, who lacks standard heroic characteristics, like bravery, honesty, and selflessness. An example of an antihero is Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean. 

Tragic Hero

A tragic hero is the main character of a tragedy, a branch of drama that focuses on human suffering and the unfortunate and sorrowful events that happen.Romeo Montague in William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is an example of a tragic hero. 

Villainous Protagonist

A villainous protagonist is the story’s main character who propels the plot forward but has evil qualities, such as selfishness, cruelty, and dishonesty. An example of this is Humbert Humbert in Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita. 

Supporting Protagonist

A supporting protagonist is a character who, while not the main focus of the story, offers a unique perspective on the main plot and primary protagonist. An example of a supporting protagonist is Bilbo Baggins from The Hobbit. 

The term protagonist also has other meanings outside the literary world. It can refer to “the leading person in an event” or an “active supporter of a movement or policy.” 

She was undoubtedly the protagonist of the competition, taking home three of the five trophies. 

During the negotiations, the ambassador emerged as the protagonist, working hard to bring the parties to agreement. 

He was a protagonist in the school choice movement, dedicating years of his life to ensuring parents explored all possible schooling options. 

Synonyms for “Protagonist”

Below, you’ll find synonyms for protagonist that fit its various uses.

“Protagonist” meaning “main character”:

Central character

In the novel, the central character struggles to understand her family’s dynamics. 

In the novel, the protagonist struggles to understand her family’s dynamics. 

Lead

In the play, the lead’s personal conflicts set the stage for the rest of the show. 

In the play, the protagonist’s conflicts set the stage for the rest of the show. 

Main character

The movie’s main character embarks on a funny, wild, and surprising journey. 

The movie’s protagonist embarks on a funny, wild, and surprising journey. 

Main figure

The story’s main figure faces numerous obstacles. 

The story’s protagonist faces numerous obstacles. 

Principal role

The book revolves around the young principal role who defies societal expectations. 

The book revolves around the young protagonist who defies societal expectations. 

“Protagonist” meaning “the leading person in an event”:

Chief participant

He was the chief participant in the latest innovations.

He was the protagonist in the latest innovations. 

Leading participant

The leading participant of the international conference played a crucial role. 

The protagonist in the international conference played a crucial role. 

Leading player

He was the leading player and the reason the team won the championship.

He was the protagonist and the reason the team won the championship.

Key figure

As the key figure of the summit, he played a crucial role in shaping the schedule. 

As the protagonist of the summit, he played a crucial role in shaping the schedule. 

“Protagonist” meaning “active supporter of a movement or policy”

Advocate

She has been an advocate of promoting renewable energy. 

She has been a protagonist of promoting renewable energy. 

Champion

As a champion for election integrity, he influenced many to join the cause. 

As a protagonist for election integrity, he influenced many to join the cause.

Leading supporter

He was the leading supporter of the program and brought significant changes to the company. 

He was the protagonist of the program and brought significant changes to the company. 

Proponent

Lily was known as the proponent of the campaign for digital privacy rights. 

Lily was known as the protagonist of the campaign for digital privacy rights. 

Spokesperson

The organization’s spokesperson gave a speech at their yearly charity drive.

The organization’s protagonist gave a speech at their yearly charity drive. 

Now that we’ve thoroughly reviewed what protagonist means, let’s look at its antonym or opposite word—antagonist. 

What Is an “Antagonist”? 

An antagonist is the protagonist’s main rival. It is the character that works against the leading character’s goals and creates conflict.

It’s always surprising when a movie’s antagonist wins. 

Many people claim he was the film’s antagonist, but I think he was just misunderstood. 

At first, I thought the character was the antagonist, but it turns out he’s actually one of the protagonists. 

There are a few different types of antagonists.

The Villain

The standard antagonist is the story’s villain or the character that works against the protagonist. They are typically associated with immorality, selfishness, dishonesty, and other bad traits. 

The key difference between a villain protagonist and an antagonist is that, despite evil qualities, the former is the main character, while the latter is a secondary character who challenges the protagonist. An example of an antagonist is Voldemort in the Harry Potter series.

The Force of Nature

Sometimes, the antagonist of a story is not a person but a natural disaster or any other element of nature that poses a significant threat to the protagonist. An example is the shark in the movie Jaws.

The Institution

It’s also possible for the antagonist to be an institution, like a corrupt government or oppressive society, that enforces rules that the protagonist struggles against. The government in George Orwell’s novel 1984 is an example of this type of antagonist.

The Internal Antagonist

In some cases, the antagonist is the inner world of the protagonists themselves. The thoughts, inner demons, personal flaws, or moral dilemmas can create conflict that the protagonist must overcome. An example would be Tony Stark in the Iron Man movies, as he often grapples with his ego, legacy as an arms manufacturer, and responsibilities as a hero.

Antagonist can also simply mean “one that opposes another.”

They’ve been political antagonists since the moment they began their campaigns. 

In the scientific world, antagonist can also refer to “a muscle that contracts with and limits the action of an agonist” or “a chemical that acts within the body to reduce the activity of another chemical substance.” 

When the arm is flexed, the biceps serve as the agonist muscles, while the triceps act as the antagonist muscles. 

Antihistamines work as antagonists by blocking the action of histamines in the body.

Synonyms of “Antagonist”

Here you can find a few words that can be used in place of antagonist when meaning “main rival of the protagonist.”

Adversary

In the chess tournament, Lourdes faced a seasoned adversary known for her strategic prowess.

In the chess tournament, Lourdes faced a seasoned antagonist known for her strategic prowess.

Opponent

The team’s opponent played tough in the final match.

The team’s antagonist played tough in the final match.

Rival

He had been his rival in business for decades.

He had been his antagonist in business for decades.

Nemesis

The hero faced his nemesis in a fierce final battle.

The hero faced his antagonist in a fierce final battle.

Foe

In the video game, I had trouble beating the dragon, which was the most challenging foe.

In the video game, I had trouble beating the dragon, which was the most challenging antagonist.

Become the Protagonist of Your Writing Journey

Now that you know what protagonist and antagonist mean, you can confidently begin your writing journey or engage in insightful discussions. Remember:

• A protagonist is the story’s main character, whose actions help propel the plot forward.
• An antagonist, while often a secondary character, is pivotal in creating compelling narratives by introducing challenges and conflicts for the protagonist to overcome.

As you write, envision yourself as the protagonist of the writing journey, and the potential spelling, grammar, and stylistic errors as the antagonists you must face. But thankfully, you have a formidable ally at your fingertips—LanguageTool.

As an advanced, AI-driven writing assistant, LanguageTool can help you craft stories with descriptive writing, ensuring that your work is error-free and engaging.

Try LanguageTool today and embrace your role as the hero of your writing journey