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

At first glance, Heyward appeared to be the aggressor during most of the interactions with Allen. —Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Dec. 2025

Agents pursued the aggressor, eventually stopping the car in a cul-de-sac where the driver was arrested. —Sarah Rumpf-Whitten , Adriana James-Rodil, FOXNews.com, 18 Nov. 2025

After the show was announced last week, ERR reported that the nation’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said there was no place in Estonia for support of aggressor state Russia. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 14 Nov. 2025

The jury was unable to come to a unanimous decision on who the initial aggressor. —Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 11 Nov. 2025

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