as in assaults
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
Relevance
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 aggressions
Oil prices have surged since February 28, when the US and Israel opened aggressions by assassinating Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei in a series of missile strikes that also killed the commander of the IRGC, the minister of defense, and other top brass.
—
Frank Landymore, Futurism, 12 Mar. 2026
As servers delicately navigate around the women, serving plates of food that will never be touched, micro-aggressions are tossed, disguised as jokes.
—Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2026
If and when such aggressions fully materialize, the United States will lack the moral and ethical authority to credibly object.
—Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
Her visits to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, which its nearest neighbors see as an homage to Japan’s past wartime aggressions, have also angered both of those nations.
—Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
The proceedings seem to be going fine until unexpected tensions and aggressions start to break out among the dancers.
—Samantha Allen, Them., 7 Oct. 2025
For Brasília, Beijing constitutes an indispensable strategic partner, but Washington, even after its recent aggressions, remains an irreplaceable global power.
—Hussein Kalout, Foreign Affairs, 2 Sep. 2025
Challenges are also proceeding against the other frenzied aggressions prompted by the fake immigration emergency, including a lawsuit by the ACLU over the creation of the Alligator Alcatraz facility.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2025
Frank Landymore, Futurism, 12 Mar. 2026
As servers delicately navigate around the women, serving plates of food that will never be touched, micro-aggressions are tossed, disguised as jokes.
—Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2026
If and when such aggressions fully materialize, the United States will lack the moral and ethical authority to credibly object.
—Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
Her visits to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, which its nearest neighbors see as an homage to Japan’s past wartime aggressions, have also angered both of those nations.
—Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
The proceedings seem to be going fine until unexpected tensions and aggressions start to break out among the dancers.
—Samantha Allen, Them., 7 Oct. 2025
For Brasília, Beijing constitutes an indispensable strategic partner, but Washington, even after its recent aggressions, remains an irreplaceable global power.
—Hussein Kalout, Foreign Affairs, 2 Sep. 2025
Challenges are also proceeding against the other frenzied aggressions prompted by the fake immigration emergency, including a lawsuit by the ACLU over the creation of the Alligator Alcatraz facility.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aggressions
Noun
-
Washington reports only assaults involving a dangerous weapon.—
Stella Canino-Quinones,
Baltimore Sun,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The detective said police believe all of the suspects who committed the in-person robberies and assaults in the Bay Area and California have been arrested.—
Megan Cassidy,
San Francisco Chronicle,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But Israel and Hezbollah showed no signs of decreasing their attacks Friday.—
Brian Dakss,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
In an attempt to prevent further attacks on Beirut, the Lebanese government reiterated its call to enter direct negotiations with Israel, an offer Netanyahu has since accepted.—
Joseph Wilkins,
CNBC,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The protest erupted after federal agents conducted simultaneous immigration raids at the company’s Camarillo and Carpinteria locations, arresting more than 300 workers without documentation.—
Cierra Morgan,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Israeli raids in the city have resulted in severe destruction and many casualties, including the personnel deaths.—
NBC News,
NBC news,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
When will these onslaughts of cold end?—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But the forces being deployed are light infantry, units that lack the large armored vehicles, including tanks, that typically underpin sustained ground offensives.—
Chris Boccia,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Putin is widely expected to launch new offensives as the weather in Ukraine improves, piling further pressure on Kyiv.—
Hanna Arhirova,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The completion of probation will give her the opportunity to not have the offenses added to her record, KAIT and Fox San Antonio reported.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Williams and the other men are charged with kidnapping and conspiracy to commit kidnapping, offenses punishable by any term of years or life in prison.—
Chase Rogers,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Redshirt freshman Canaan Moore played in one game, against Eastern Washington, hitting one of his two field-goal attempts and all four extra points.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Isbel has recorded three steals on three attempts (10th in MLB).—
Data Skrive,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Aggressions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggressions. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
