aggressive

ag·gres·sive

adj \ə-ˈgre-siv\

Definition of AGGRESSIVE

1

a : tending toward or exhibiting aggression <aggressive behavior> b : marked by combative readiness <an aggressive fighter>

2

a : marked by obtrusive energy b : marked by driving forceful energy or initiative : enterprising <an aggressive salesman>

3

: strong or emphatic in effect or intent <aggressive colors> <aggressive flavors>

4

: growing, developing, or spreading rapidly <aggressive bone tumors>

5

: more severe, intensive, or comprehensive than usual especially in dosage or extent <aggressive chemotherapy>

— ag·gres·sive·ly adverb

— ag·gres·sive·ness noun

— ag·gres·siv·i·ty \ˌa-ˌgre-ˈsi-və-tē\ noun

Examples of AGGRESSIVE

1. He started to get aggressive and began to shout.
2. an aggressive lawyer whose tactics have made people angry
3. The team plays a very aggressive style of defense.
4. The company took aggressive steps to prevent illegal use of their equipment.
5. The publisher has been very aggressive in promoting the book.
6. The city began an aggressive campaign to encourage recycling.
7. an aggressive form of cancer

First Known Use of AGGRESSIVE

1824

Related to AGGRESSIVE

Synonyms: ambitious, assertive, enterprising, fierce, go-getting, high-pressure, in-your-face, militant, pushy, self-asserting, self-assertive

Antonyms: ambitionless, low-pressure, nonassertive, unaggressive, unambitious, unassertive, unenterprising

Related Words: argumentative, bellicose, belligerent, combative, contentious, discordant, disputatious, gladiatorial, militant, pugnacious, quarrelsome, trigger-happy, truculent, warlike; hyperaggressive, overambitious; dynamic, energetic, enterprising, gung ho, hustling, strenuous, vigorous; emphatic, obtrusive; adventuresome, adventurous, daring, dashing, emboldened, gutsy, venturesome, venturous; audacious, bold, brash, brassy, bumptious, cheeky, cocksure, cocky, confident, determined, forward, impudent, insolent, overconfident, presumptuous, unapologetic, unsubdued, unyielding; bare-knuckle (also bare-knuckled or bare-knuckles), feisty, scrappy; dominating, domineering, imperious, lordly, magisterial, overbearing

Near Antonyms: easygoing, laid-back, relaxed; acquiescent, amenable, compliant, deferential, docile, resigned, submissive, tractable, yielding; cowering, cringing, groveling (or grovelling), shrinking; bashful, demure, diffident, humble, lowly, meek, mild, modest, mousy (or mousey), overmodest, passive, quiet, reserved, retiring, shy, subdued, timid, unobtrusive; obsequious, servile, slavish, subservient

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Synonym Discussion of AGGRESSIVE

aggressive, militant, assertive, self-assertive 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>. 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>. assertive suggests bold self-confidence in expression of opinion <the more assertive speakers dominated the forum>. self-assertive connotes forwardness or brash self-confidence <a self-assertive young upstart>.

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

Rhymes with AGGRESSIVE

caressive, compressive, concessive, degressive, depressive, digressive, excessive, expressive, impressive, ingressive, obsessive, oppressive, possessive, progressive, recessive, regressive, successive, suppressive, transgressive