1
as in aggressiveness
an inclination to fight or quarrel
though the dogs have a reputation for aggression, many of their owners insist they make gentle pets
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in attack
the act or action of setting upon with force or violence
diplomats warned that any aggression by either side could easily turn into a full-scale war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of aggression
From Hitler’s rise to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, history shows how that disbelief in aggression can have catastrophic results.
—
Big Think, 20 Oct. 2025
Much of the dialogue — like in the novels — is spat out, with venom, with aggression, with wit, even with humor, propelling each episode to its cliff-hanging conclusion.
—Barbara Ellis, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
Kleinfeld said perpetrators of public violence are struggling with their sense of self and are looking for a target for their aggression.
—Caroline Love, NPR, 17 Oct. 2025
Tyrer had the insidious condition caused by repetitive head trauma and known to cause aggression, mood swings, depression and paranoia.
—Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aggression
Big Think, 20 Oct. 2025
Much of the dialogue — like in the novels — is spat out, with venom, with aggression, with wit, even with humor, propelling each episode to its cliff-hanging conclusion.
—Barbara Ellis, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
Kleinfeld said perpetrators of public violence are struggling with their sense of self and are looking for a target for their aggression.
—Caroline Love, NPR, 17 Oct. 2025
Tyrer had the insidious condition caused by repetitive head trauma and known to cause aggression, mood swings, depression and paranoia.
—Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aggression
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aggression
Noun
-
Just nothing, not dictating at the point of attack, no aggressiveness to it at all.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Prostate cancers are graded for aggressiveness in the Gleason grading system, which ranges from 6 to 10, with 10 being the most aggressive.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Federico Gatti was also excellent in thwarting Madrid’s attacks.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
-
The attack has spurred allegations of a hate crime against the girl, who is Yemeni and Muslim.—
Andrea May Sahouri,
Freep.com,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Naroditsky’s untimely death has shined a spotlight on the dark underbelly of the game that fellow pros say brought undue hostility upon the chess star in his final months.—
Corey Williams,
Fortune,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Presidents have wide latitude to deploy the Guard, and protection of federal property is an obvious justification in this season of violent hostility to ICE.—
Newsweek Contributors,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Other times, the mob leaned on more traditional crime tactics — robbery, extortion and assault, including a punch to one victim’s face — to force the card players to pay.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
25 Oct. 2025
-
He was sentenced to 17 years for armed kidnapping and 17 years for armed burglary with assault or battery.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Here, in two very different settings, its mix of exultation, defiance and acknowledgment of the very real possibility of defeat could not be more apt.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Oct. 2025
-
The Barca team also participated — in defiance of their own club hierarchy — by pausing during the first 15 seconds of their match at home to Girona the previous day.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The play was blown up, coming nowhere close to first down yardage, and the onslaught began.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Oct. 2025
-
For years local and federal investigators were stumped by who had sent the letters and were unable to prevent the onslaught of threats for more than a decade.—
Liam Quinn,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
When police arrived, however, there was no sign of any fight or crime scene.—
Liam Quinn,
PEOPLE,
26 Oct. 2025
-
In his eight wins, all eight have come inside the distance, with only two fights seeing a second round.—
Brett Appley,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
There’s a lot of fear in the air – fear of speaking out, fear of being swept up in ICE raids, etc.—
Andre Mouchard,
Oc Register,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Thieves last week targeted the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery in a brazen daylight raid, fleeing with jewelry worth tens of millions in a matter of minutes.—
Billy Stockwell,
CNN Money,
26 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Aggression.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggression. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share