agonist
noun
ag·o·nist
ˈa-gə-nist 
1
: one that is engaged in a struggle
2
[from antagonist]
a
: a muscle that is controlled by the action of an antagonist with which it is paired
b
: a chemical substance capable of combining with a specific receptor on a cell and initiating the same reaction or activity typically produced by the binding endogenous substance
dopaminergic agonists
compare antagonist sense 2b
Examples of agonist in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The review, conducted by the University of Oxford's Biomedical Research Centre, sought to measure weight gain after stopping the use of weight loss medication, or GLP-1 receptor agonists.
—
Rachel Raposas, People.com, 16 May 2025
For the study, the MASH patients received weekly injections of either a placebo or semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist and the active ingredient in the popular drugs Wegovy and Ozempic.
—Cathy Nelson, Health, 13 May 2025
Researchers from the Weizmann Institute of Science are now one step closer to a new way to target obesity without it effecting muscle mass, which is something that unfortunately the suite of GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs do negatively impact.
—Bronwyn Thompson, New Atlas, 7 May 2025
Bottom Line Current data on GLP-1 receptor agonists and addiction is certainly promising.
—Lipi Roy, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for agonist
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Rachel Raposas, People.com, 16 May 2025
For the study, the MASH patients received weekly injections of either a placebo or semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist and the active ingredient in the popular drugs Wegovy and Ozempic.
—Cathy Nelson, Health, 13 May 2025
Researchers from the Weizmann Institute of Science are now one step closer to a new way to target obesity without it effecting muscle mass, which is something that unfortunately the suite of GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs do negatively impact.
—Bronwyn Thompson, New Atlas, 7 May 2025
Bottom Line Current data on GLP-1 receptor agonists and addiction is certainly promising.
—Lipi Roy, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for agonist
Cite this Entry
“Agonist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/agonist. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
agonist
noun
ag·o·nist
ˈag-ə-nəst
1
: a muscle that on contracting is automatically checked and controlled by the opposing simultaneous contraction of another muscle
called also agonist muscle, prime mover
compare antagonist sense a, synergist sense 22
: a chemical substance (as a drug) capable of combining with a receptor on a cell and initiating the same reaction or activity typically produced by the binding of an endogenous substance
binding of adrenergic agonists
compare antagonist sense b
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