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 The United States deploys about 28,500 troops in South Korea as deterrence against potential aggressions from North Korea. — ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for aggressions

Noun

The government has been carrying out a counteroffensive since January, with aerial bombardments and ground assaults, despite an official commitment to the peace agreement.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
Since then, the assaults have been so frequent that even the mayor has lost counts.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of assaults

Noun

The development comes as the global shipping industry contends with attacks around the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, higher energy prices, and sharply reduced traffic through some of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints.

— Joshua Hong, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026
The move follows months of Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries and logistics hubs that have disrupted fuel supplies and online commerce, deepening economic strain and public frustration as Russia’s war enters its fifth year.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of attacks

Noun

During these latest raids on five properties, the military seized 18,000 gallons of diesel, fuel tanks, pumps, firearms, and tools.

— CBS News, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
The Pew Research Center estimates this number includes more than 330,000 Haitian migrants, who are now susceptible to ICE raids and deportations.

— Nathan Lee, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of raids

Noun

In fact, reported evidence suggests this software commitment (from a company making its revenue from hardware) has been crucial to Nvidia’s success in fending off onslaughts from other hardware vendors such as Intel.

— Nisha Talagala, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Ukraine has been largely helpless in similar Russian onslaughts in recent weeks.

— Tom Bowman, NPR, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of onslaughts

Noun

However, Iran analysts are highly skeptical that Tehran will prove capable of launching any such large-scale ground offensives any time soon.

— Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
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

Definition of offensives

Noun

So surrounding Antetokounmpo with shooting was the smart strategy, because the data suggests offenses play at well above-average levels when the two-time MVP is paired with elite shooting.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
The police will have to disclose only reports of crimes that took place on the campus itself, and not reports concerning burglary, larceny and other offenses, which the judge deemed irrelevant.

— Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of offenses

Noun

Utilizing quick, short passes, Hayes completed 14 of his first 16 attempts, including a 26-yard touchdown strike to sophomore tight end Ian Figi that gave Naperville Central a 14-0 lead.

— Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
McIntire is going batty — in a good way — over attempts to investigate the elusive western mastiff.

— Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of attempts

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“Aggressions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggressions. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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noun

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