assertive

adjective

as·​ser·​tive ə-ˈsər-tiv How to pronounce assertive (audio)
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
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 The debate has been bubbling for months, as countries nearest to Russia – such as Poland and the former Soviet Baltic republics of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania – have tried to nudge other European leaders toward the more assertive Option 2. Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Mar. 2024 The assertive approach to the session illustrated just how much Republicans in Louisiana have been itching to dismantle the legislative legacy of Gov. John Bel Edwards, the two-term Democrat who preceded Mr. Landry, and to adopt policies that Mr. Edwards would have thwarted. Rick Rojas, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2024 The goal: to introduce South Florida to high-quality teas, from floral white and green teas to assertive oolong and black teas. Evan Benn, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024 The more roadblocks Amazon tosses their way, the more their collective sense of purpose weakens, not helped by Smalls’ brashly assertive leadership style, which isn’t always sensitive to the demands of those still working at JFK8. Guy Lodge, Variety, 29 Jan. 2024 Russell returned to the starting lineup five games ago, determined to complement James and Davis by being assertive. Beth Harris, USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2024 Much of the attention on China’s growing military presence in the Indo-Pacific has focused on its massive fleet of naval ships and increasingly assertive aircraft maneuvers near Taiwan. Cate Cadell, Washington Post, 10 Jan. 2024 In 2020, he was awarded South Carolina’s top honor for assertive journalism. Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 28 Feb. 2024 Full, balanced, assertive aromas that are layered and delightful, including red plums, red cherries, orange sorbet and some turf. Tom Mullen, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'assertive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see assert

First Known Use

circa 1619, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of assertive was circa 1619

Dictionary Entries Near assertive

Cite this Entry

“Assertive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/assertive. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

assertive

adjective
as·​sert·​ive
ə-ˈsərt-iv,
a-
: having a bold or confident manner
assertively adverb
assertiveness noun

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