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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Recent Examples of aggressions
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
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
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
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
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Ukrainian civilians have endured relentless air assaults since Russia invaded their country more than four years ago.—
Samya Kullab,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
-
Ukrainian civilians have endured relentless air assaults since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbor more than four years ago.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 May 2026
Noun
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In recent years, a litany of violent, seemingly unprovoked attacks across Metro led to the deaths or severe injury of several passengers—a confirmation of Angelenos’ worst fears about the system.—
Oren Peleg,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
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Earlier this week the United Nations blasted Israel over its strikes killing healthcare workers, saying the World Health Organization has recorded 151 such attacks resulting in 103 deaths and 230 injuries.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
9 May 2026
Noun
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Kripke has been praised for seemingly predicting the future, with the show lining up with real life events — including the latest season arriving as ICE raids hit America, with Homelander ordering similar raids.—
Aaron Couch,
HollywoodReporter,
8 May 2026
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Shopping malls across Southern California have also struggled to bring sales back as immigration raids continue to scare customers away.—
Itzel Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
When will these onslaughts of cold end?—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The Oilers won nine series in the last four years and represented the West in unsuccessful offensives against the Florida Panthers in each of the past two Junes.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
1 May 2026
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The army has retaken territory from ethnic militias, including the Three Brotherhood Alliance, which had launched powerful offensives along with pro-democracy resistance forces in northeastern Myanmar near the Chinese border and in western Myanmar.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Other forms of theft, as well as drug offenses — something Bianco said is crucial to address while backing Proposition 36, a ballot measure state voters passed in 2024 to increase penalties for such crimes — have also fluctuated in the county for years.—
Hailey Wang,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2026
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King’s federal indictment on multiple drug offenses, including distributing 28 grams or more of crack cocaine, prompted a state judge on Friday to revoke his conditional release from Norfolk Superior Court.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
9 May 2026
Noun
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And of course Mike Brown pulled Mitchell Robinson, who missed four straight free throws when the 76ers began intentionally fouling him in the first quarter, only to continue extending the lead despite the Sixers’ attempts at stifling his rotation.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
5 May 2026
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The Magic scored only 19 second-half points, the fewest for any half in playoff history, and made only one of their 20 fourth-quarter shot attempts.—
Josh Robbins,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Aggressions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggressions. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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