aggressive

adjective

ə-ˈgre-siv How to pronounce aggressive (audio)
Definition of aggressivenext
1
as in combative
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight a kindergarten teacher who discourages aggressive behavior, like pushing, by rewarding those children who wait their turn

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ambitious
having or showing a bold forcefulness in the pursuit of a goal if you don't take a more aggressive approach to this yard pretty soon, the weeds are going to take over completely

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in violent
marked by or uttered with forcefulness the team's game strategy depends on a very aggressive style of defense

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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aggressive behavior
assertive behavior
hostile behavior
belligerent behavior
violent behavior
dominant behavior
an aggressive approach
a proactive approach
a vigorous approach
a strong approach
an active approach
an assertive approach
an aggressive treatment
an intense treatment
a vigorous treatment
an accelerated treatment
a rigorous treatment
an extreme treatment

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective aggressive contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of aggressive are assertive, militant, and self-assertive. While all these words mean "obtrusively energetic especially in pursuing particular goals," aggressive implies a disposition to dominate often in disregard of others' rights or in determined and energetic pursuit of one's ends.

aggressive in his business dealings

When is assertive a more appropriate choice than aggressive?

Although the words assertive and aggressive have much in common, assertive suggests bold self-confidence in expression of opinion.

the more assertive speakers dominated the forum

In what contexts can militant take the place of aggressive?

In some situations, the words militant and aggressive are roughly equivalent. However, militant also implies a fighting disposition but suggests not self-seeking but devotion to a cause, movement, or principle.

militant protesters rallied against the new law

Where would self-assertive be a reasonable alternative to aggressive?

The words self-assertive and aggressive are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, self-assertive connotes forwardness or brash self-confidence.

a self-assertive young upstart

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 aggressive In 2024-25, Bournemouth tied its best Premier League result, finishing ninth, with an aggressive, risk-taking style of play that won it many converts. —Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 14 Aug. 2025 Wired's report suggested that some federal workers are uncomfortable not just with the Trump administration's aggressive pace in forcing AI adoption, but also with the price of the products agencies are being required to use. —Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 14 Aug. 2025 The federal government’s aggressive intervention in the nation’s capital has angered many city residents. —Chantelle Lee, Time, 14 Aug. 2025 The corporation counsel must be aggressive in going after companies that cheat city laws. —Harvey Epstein, New York Daily News, 3 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for aggressive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aggressive
  1. combative
  2. ambitious
  3. violent
  4. hostile
  5. fierce
  6. vigorous
  7. contentious
  8. militant
Adjective
  • Of course, the increasingly partisan, combative, and at times, chaotic atmosphere had infiltrated the modern Congress before Johnson or his Senate counterpart, Majority Leader John Thune, took the gavel.
    — Savannah Kuchar, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2025
  • Instead, the parties have yet to even reach an agreement for the contract that expired in 2022, and the union is taking a more publicly combative tone ahead of arbitration.
    — David Clarey, jsonline.com, 31 July 2025
Definition of combative
Adjective
  • Below, Christopher tells PEOPLE about his ambitious career goals, talks about his love for action movies, and much more.
    — Nigel Smith, People.com, 8 Aug. 2025
  • Investors who understand the aspirations of this next generation digitally fluent, globally ambitious, and culturally rooted can build enduring franchises.
    — Robert Daugherty, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Definition of ambitious
Adjective
  • There ended up being a fire in the shop, and police discovered the victims (again, content warning for a violent crime), naked, tied up, burned, shot in the head with at least one of them having been raped.
    — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Shortly thereafter, Hamas won the Palestinian legislative elections and staged a violent coup to overthrow the Palestinian Authority and seize control of the Strip.
    — Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Definition of violent
Adjective
  • In recent weeks, both have also moved military forces to the border near Assab and are engaging in escalating exchanges of hostile rhetoric.
    — Mulugeta Gebrehiwot Berhe, Foreign Affairs, 5 Aug. 2025
  • Meanwhile, Trump has moved closer to Pakistan, with which India has hostile relations and the U.S. has historically had a complex and sometimes tense relationship, especially as Pakistan has grown closer to and is primarily armed by China.
    — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 4 Aug. 2025
Definition of hostile
Adjective
  • Nonetheless, the show’s premiere provides the perfect moment to map out the slimy, menacing world of Ellen Ripley and company in their epic battle against one of the galaxy’s fiercest creatures.
    — Dan Heching, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2025
  • On a subsequent rally, Kaylee smacked a fierce shot past me, scoring her team a point.
    — Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2025
Definition of fierce
Adjective
  • Not surprisingly, the live take from the Aug. 2 gig features vigorous chorus help from the stadium crowd, a staple of the enthusiastic response from diehards during the band’s first run of UK dates on their Live ’25 tour.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 14 Aug. 2025
  • The voters are entitled to a fair election and a vigorous debate on the issues and the ongoing effort by both political parties, now reaching a fever pitch, to make more and more of those elections non-competitive is excluding that debate and detrimental to problem-solving and to our country.
    — Kevin Igoe, Baltimore Sun, 11 Aug. 2025
Definition of vigorous
Adjective
  • Elsewhere in the Bay Area, San Francisco Playhouse is wrapping up a one-person show that leads audiences to consider their feelings and beliefs about the profoundly contentious Israel-Gaza conflict, even though it’s mostly meant to be a personal story.
    — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Instead of a more contentious disagreement, which could have necessitated a final ruling from commissioner Roger Goodell, the two sides ultimately settled on an agreement to share the equity.
    — Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Definition of contentious
Adjective
  • While some agree with early views of student protestors that Israel is carrying out a campaign of cruelty and ethnic cleansing in Gaza, others insist Hamas, the militant group in control of the region, which attacked Israel on Oct. 7, sparking the war, is solely responsible for the suffering.
    — Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025
  • Videos released by the militant groups Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad last week showed hostages Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski in a visibly fragile state – images that galvanized a forceful reaction both at home and abroad.
    — Dana Karni, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2025
Definition of militant

Browse Nearby Words

aggressions
aggressive
aggressively
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Cite this Entry

“Aggressive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggressive. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.

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