aggressor

noun

ag·​gres·​sor ə-ˈgre-sər 

: one that commits or practices aggression

Synonyms of aggressor

• invader
• raider
• attacker

Examples of aggressor in a Sentence

Each country accused the other of being the aggressor.

a group of smaller states had formed an alliance to deter potential aggressors

Recent Examples on the Web

According to police, officers believed that Hay was the aggressor and threw the first punch. —Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2026

Padikkal was the aggressor of the two batters and completed his half-century from 20 balls with six sixes and two fours while Kohli raised his third fifty of the season from 30 balls. —ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026

Minnesota was the aggressor in overtime, controlling the play for long stretches, and getting an extra session power play when Quinn Hughes was tripped while cutting to the net. —Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 23 Apr. 2026

Further, for arguably the first time in those 10 meetings, the Rapids were the aggressor from kickoff. —Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 23 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin, "attacker, assailant," from aggredī, adgredī "to approach, attack" + -tor, agent suffix — more at aggress

First Known Use

1585, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for aggressor

• assessor
• compressor
• confessor
• depressor
• hairdresser
• necessar
• oppressor
• possessor
• processor
• professor
• repressor
• successor

Kids Definition

aggressor

noun

ag·​gres·​sor ə-ˈgres-ər 

: a person or country that attacks without reasonable cause

Medical Definition

aggressor

noun

ag·​gres·​sor ə-ˈgres-ər 

: one who exhibits aggression