passive-aggressive

adjective

pas·​sive-ag·​gres·​sive ˈpa-siv-ə-ˈgre-siv 

: being, marked by, or displaying behavior characterized by the expression of negative feelings, resentment, and aggression in an unassertive passive way (as through procrastination and stubbornness)

It is passive-aggressive behavior, the donning of a mask of amiability that conceals raw antagonism toward one's competitors, even one's friends.

—Hilary De Vries

A passive-aggressive manager eschews open hostilities, in part because he feels distinctly uncomfortable with them.

—Walter Kiechel III

passive-aggressive noun

Examples of passive-aggressive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Alexander Skarsgård, who resembles a very tall version of Jim Carrey, plays him with a passive-aggressive fatuousness that is, in itself, a bit Carrey-like. —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 24 Jan. 2026

Meanwhile Jerry's glamorous, passive-aggressive wife Tisha Basmati (played by Saturday Night Live alum Heidi Gardner in two episodes) hates Reggie's ex-wife/current agent and business manager Monica (Erika Alexander) just as much as her husband hates Reggie. —Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Jan. 2026

Including a manager can apply pressure without stating it directly, which can feel passive-aggressive. —Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 5 Jan. 2026

Repressed resentment and grievances explode when his professional success takes a backseat to hers, and passive-aggressive zingers and hard feelings turn their relationship into a flaming hot mess. —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 21 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1945, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for passive-aggressive

• immunosuppressive
• aggressive
• compressive
• concessive
• depressive
• excessive
• expressive
• impressive
• obsessive
• oppressive
• possessive
• progressive

Medical Definition

passive-aggressive

1 of 2 adjective

: being, marked by, or displaying behavior characterized by expression of negative feelings, resentment, and aggression in an unassertive way (as through procrastination, stubbornness, and unwillingness to communicate)

a passive-aggressive personality

passive-aggressively adverb

passive-aggressive

2 of 2 noun

: a passive-aggressive individual