AGGRESSIONS Synonyms: 59 Similar and Opposite Words

aggressions

noun

plural of aggression

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

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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 Many of the physical aggressions KFF Health News identified in CMS inspection reports were perpetrated by residents with diagnoses of dementia, schizophrenia, or other cognitive disorders. — Jordan Rau, NPR, 19 July 2026 Vitello, meanwhile, just takes it — macro- and micro-aggressions alike. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 21 June 2026 Athens was a belligerent city-state that fell victim to its own aggressions. — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 15 June 2026 The sharp comedy follows their meetings over the course of the school year, revealing the micro-aggressions, class distinctions, and prejudices of the council members, which Spector addresses with clever, amusing insight. — Mary Damiano, Miami Herald, 27 May 2026 Race, bad bosses and the fly-on-the-wall fun of watching office politics and micro-aggressions play out makes this workplace suspense novel a total page-turner (as well as a binge-worthy limited television series). — Laura Zigman, PEOPLE, 2 May 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for aggressions

Noun

Such tactics also showcase the Ukrainian military’s ongoing experimentation with using drones and robots to offset a Russian military advantage in manpower while also sparing Ukrainian soldiers from making dangerous assaults.

— Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 22 July 2026
Syrskyi’s way of war – large frontal assaults that were costly, if not the only real way to reclaim land – had begun to look dated.

— Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 22 July 2026

Definition of assaults

Noun

Harbaugh had tense standoffs with legacy defenders Ed Reed, Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs and, during the 2012 season, held a sitdown with his players to address their vicious and personal attacks on his approach.

— Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Israeli intelligence believes Iran moved part of its enriched uranium stockpile to Pickaxe Mountain after last June’s attacks, an Israeli source familiar with the matter told CNN.

— Arpita Dasika, CNN Money, 22 July 2026

Definition of attacks

Noun

Palestinians described searches that included raids of a hospital in the city of Nablus, one of the territory's most violent areas.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 July 2026
Though the Department of Homeland Security last week ordered agents to pause most vehicle stops, organizers said reports of immigration raids continue to fuel fear and uncertainty throughout immigrant communities.

— Lila Hempel-Edgers, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2026

Definition of raids

Noun

Russia appeared to be flexing its military muscle in a show of force with its latest aerial onslaughts on Ukraine.

— ABC News, ABC News, 13 May 2026
Wardley, 31, had never lost in 21 bouts before Saturday, and somehow withstood numerous onslaughts from Dubois (23-3) without ever touching the canvas in a remarkable display of courage.

— Chris McKenna, New York Times, 9 May 2026

Definition of onslaughts

Noun

Israel’s ongoing offensives have become a wedge issue for Jewish and non-Jewish Americans, leading to protests and raising antisemitism fears and questions about America’s close ties to Israel.

— David Crary, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
Countries are scrambling not to fall behind in AI — and French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are leading a personal charm offensives to court tech CEOs.

— Kai Nicol-Schwarz,Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 4 July 2026

Definition of offensives

Noun

Sure, the three looked better as the season went on but opposing offenses still continued to attack, something that will surely happen again if there’s no improvement.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 25 July 2026
The case of Thomas Boukamp exemplifies this; his autism influenced his serious crimes and his catastrophic decision to self-represent, resulting in a life sentence far exceeding typical penalties for similar offenses.

— Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026

Definition of offenses

Noun

After attempts to secure locations in Overland Park and at the old Bannister Mall site fell through, Sporting Park opened in 2011 in the far-west Legends area of Kansas City, Kansas.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 24 July 2026
The side has also failed to reach the semifinal stage of the European Championship in its last two attempts.

— Thomas Schlachter, CNN Money, 24 July 2026

Definition of attempts

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“Aggressions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggressions. Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of aggressions

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