Context matters:
* As a nutrient: The antonym could be carbohydrate or fat since these are the other primary macronutrients.
* As a molecule: There's no direct antonym. You could use carbohydrate or lipid (another term for fat) to denote a different type of molecule.
* As a function: If you're talking about the role of protein in building and repairing tissues, you could use breakdown or degradation as antonyms.
Think about the specific situation:
* Example 1: "I need to increase my protein intake." The antonym could be "carbohydrates" or "fat" since these are alternatives in a diet.
* Example 2: "The protein in my muscle is being broken down." The antonym here would be "building up" or "synthesis."
Ultimately, the best antonym depends on the context of the sentence.