Final answer:
The antagonist is the character in a novel who connives to thwart the progress of the protagonist.
Step-by-step explanation:
The character in the novel who connives to thwart the progress of the protagonist is known as the antagonist. The antagonist is the character or force that stands in opposition to the protagonist. They can be a villain, but not necessarily, as they can also be an animal, an abstract concept, or the environment.