aggressive

adjective

ə-ˈgre-siv How to pronounce aggressive (audio)
Definition of aggressivenext
1
as in ambitious
having or showing a bold forcefulness in the pursuit of a goal if you don't take a more aggressive approach to this yard pretty soon, the weeds are going to take over completely

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in militant
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight a kindergarten teacher who discourages aggressive behavior, like pushing, by rewarding those children who wait their turn

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in violent
marked by or uttered with forcefulness the team's game strategy depends on a very aggressive style of defense

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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aggressive behavior
assertive behavior
hostile behavior
belligerent behavior
violent behavior
dominant behavior
an aggressive approach
a proactive approach
a vigorous approach
a strong approach
an active approach
an assertive approach
an aggressive treatment
an intense treatment
a vigorous treatment
an accelerated treatment
a rigorous treatment
an extreme treatment

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective aggressive contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of aggressive are assertive, militant, and self-assertive. While all these words mean "obtrusively energetic especially in pursuing particular goals," aggressive implies a disposition to dominate often in disregard of others' rights or in determined and energetic pursuit of one's ends.

aggressive in his business dealings

When is assertive a more appropriate choice than aggressive?

Although the words assertive and aggressive have much in common, assertive suggests bold self-confidence in expression of opinion.

the more assertive speakers dominated the forum

In what contexts can militant take the place of aggressive?

In some situations, the words militant and aggressive are roughly equivalent. However, militant also implies a fighting disposition but suggests not self-seeking but devotion to a cause, movement, or principle.

militant protesters rallied against the new law

Where would self-assertive be a reasonable alternative to aggressive?

The words self-assertive and aggressive are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, self-assertive connotes forwardness or brash self-confidence.

a self-assertive young upstart

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of aggressive To be optimally protected from polio, health care experts recommend that children in Pakistan receive two doses of the injectable vaccine and at least three doses of the oral - an aggressive course aimed at interrupting transmission. —Ruchi Kumar, NPR, 16 Apr. 2025 Amador has outstanding bat speed, and is appropriately aggressive from both sides of the plate. —Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025 Trump’s aggressive tariffs on steel, aluminum and extensive lists of Chinese imports were a bold shift toward addressing the systemic imbalance, which some call protectionism, and were intended to revive and protect U.S. industries in the same way our trading partners operated. —Alan Beard, Baltimore Sun, 15 Apr. 2025 The two were very aggressive from the start of the fight, with a lot of output. —Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for aggressive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aggressive
  1. ambitious
  2. militant
  3. violent
  4. fierce
  5. hostile
  6. vigorous
  7. assertive
  8. contentious
Adjective
  • By December 2023, the private equity firm had taken a majority stake in the British business and set an ambitious expansion plan; targeting 350 outlets by 2031.
    — Kevin Rozario, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • South Africa has broken ground on an ambitious smart city project named Westown, a multi-million-dollar development aimed at reshaping urban life in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, according to a recent report from CoinGeek.
    — Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of ambitious
Adjective
  • The group wrote to Bondi to argue that the influencer should be investigated over whether she has been paid to spread propaganda for Hamas, the Palestinian militant group in Gaza, it was first reported by the New York Post.
    — Lauren Irwin, The Hill, 8 Apr. 2025
  • And in Lebanon, a series of Israeli attacks on the country have decapitated the militant group Hezbollah.
    — Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of militant
Adjective
  • Third, the violent reaction in financial markets that followed Mr. Trump's latest tariff salvo could persuade him to change course.
    — Alain Sherter, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Adams said the pair had discussed how to combat violent migrant gangs and embedding more New York Police Department officers into federal task forces.
    — Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of violent
Adjective
  • The documentary follows the story of Ángel, a charismatic boy with fierce love for his Guarani roots and a vision for his Paraguayan hometown of Nanawa.
    — Lise Pedersen, Variety, 11 Apr. 2025
  • The Battle of Okinawa lasted 82 days, with fierce fighting on land and sea.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2025
Definition of fierce
Adjective
  • Andreas typically waits until there have been three instances of potential hostile communication before asking her friend or colleague if everything is OK.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Home to one of the world’s largest refugee populations – most of them from Afghanistan – Pakistan has not always welcomed the foreigners, subjecting them to hostile living conditions and threatening deportation over the years.
    — Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of hostile
Adjective
  • One study showed that a maximum reduction in mortality could result from 150 to 300 minutes per week of vigorous activity, 300 to 600 minutes per week of moderate physical activity, or a combination of these.2 2.
    — Amy Kwan, Verywell Health, 16 Apr. 2025
  • Advocates of vigorous government oversight look upon the concept of federal preemption as a tool of deregulation.
    — Glenn G. Lammi, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Definition of vigorous
Adjective
  • Practicing assertive communication — expressing needs clearly, calmly and respectfully — not only prevents the buildup of resentment, but also reinforces the relational norm that both partners’ experiences matter.
    — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 12 Apr. 2025
  • In 2020, he was awarded South Carolina’s top honor for assertive journalism.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 11 Apr. 2025
Definition of assertive
Adjective
  • Policies around taxes, the federal budget and migration were widely seen as contentious points among the parties.
    — Sophie Kiderlin, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2025
  • However, all three of these studies come from a closely affiliated group of researchers, are based on the same dataset tracking maternal health, and use contentious measures of both IQ and fluoride exposure.
    — Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of contentious

Browse Nearby Words

aggressions
aggressive
aggressively
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Cite this Entry

“Aggressive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggressive. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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