1. the second most important character in a drama or literary work
Usage: literary

Examples

• In Romeo and Juliet, Mercutio serves as the deuteragonist to Romeo’s protagonist.
• The deuteragonist often provides crucial support to the main character’s journey.
• Literary critics debated whether Watson or Moriarty was the true deuteragonist in the Sherlock Holmes stories.
• The novel’s deuteragonist revealed important backstory that shaped the protagonist’s decisions.
• In Greek tragedy, the deuteragonist was traditionally the second actor introduced.
• The deuteragonist’s subplot complemented the main narrative beautifully.