assertive

adjective

as·​ser·​tive ə-ˈsər-tiv 

a-

1

: disposed to or characterized by bold or confident statements and behavior

an assertive leader

2

: having a strong or distinctive flavor or aroma

assertive wines

assertively adverb

assertiveness noun

Synonyms of assertive

• aggressive
• ambitious

Choose the Right Synonym for assertive

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

Examples of assertive in a Sentence

When my mother brought my baby sister home on the train from the Chicago adoption agency, she had hired a woman from the South named Arizona, much younger than Hope, vigorous, boisterous, taller, darker, and less acclimated to the behavior expected of servants in an upscale Wasp suburb up North. She was a blithe spirit, as I remember her, assertive, gleeful, expansive, loud and goofy with me when, to tease her, I'd pull on the bow of her apron strings … —Edward Hoagland, Harper's, July 2004

Don't substitute corn syrup or molasses for cane syrup. Corn syrup is thinner, lighter and milder than cane syrup, and molasses is thicker, darker and much more assertive. —Denise Landis, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2002

One of the points I think that's important is the way in which the United States has responded to the initiatives in the African Renaissance, and a lot of the developments that we have seen, in fact, have their roots in Africa. What it means for U.S. policy is that the Africans themselves are being much more assertive than they have been in the past. —Emerge, June 1998

Daily newspaper in Chicago metro region seeks aggressive, assertive crime reporter who thrives on getting obligatory … items done fast in order to devote time to colorful stories about villains, victims and everything in between. —Editor & Publisher, 31 Oct. 1998

Their daughter is an assertive little girl.

If you want people to listen to your opinions, you'll need to learn to be more assertive.

Recent Examples on the Web

Even the least expensive styles of cheddar are more than capable of reinforcing a béchamel with assertive sharpness and creamy body. — Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Aug. 2026

The more assertive stance comes as a US-Iran agreement intended to end the war, the Memorandum of Understanding, expires with control of the Strait of Hormuz still in dispute. — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026

However, only a quarter approved of making concessions to Ukraine and the West to reach peace, and half backed more assertive military action to bring Ukraine to the table. — Fred Weir, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Aug. 2026

Never fully accepted by China and Russia and resented by newly assertive middle powers, its main financial backers—the American people—have lost interest in underwriting its further development. — Mark Leonard, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

see assert

First Known Use

circa 1620, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing assertive

• self-assertive

Rhymes for assertive

• furtive

Kids Definition

assertive

adjective

as·​sert·​ive

ə-ˈsərt-iv, 

a-

: having a bold or confident manner

assertively adverb

assertiveness noun