1. of or relating to the athletic contests held in ancient Greece • Pertains to noun: agon • Derivationally related forms: agonist 2. striving to overcome in argument - a dialectical and agonistic approach • Syn: agonistical, combative • Similar to: competitive, competitory • Derivationally related forms: combativeness (for: combative) 3. struggling for effect - agonistic poses • Syn: strained • Similar to: affected, unnatural