nonassertive

adjective

non·​as·​ser·​tive ˌnän-ə-ˈsər-tiv 

-a-

: not assertive: such as

a

: not disposed to or characterized by bold or confident statements and behavior

a quiet, nonassertive person/personality

b

: having a subtle rather than a strong flavor or aroma

Fresh pasta is delicate and absorbs sauce more readily than dried, so it works best with a light, nonassertive sauce.

—Jane Brody

nonassertively adverb

nonassertiveness noun

Examples of nonassertive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

People who knew Zhang described him to police as a nonassertive man who avoided conflict and typically acquiesced to his wife. —Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2021

Those who saw an assertive ad chose to allocate $7 of the gift card to the brand on average, compared with $14 for those who saw a nonassertive ad. —Alina Dizik, WSJ, 16 May 2017

Word History

First Known Use

1869, in the meaning defined above