Thesaurus

aggressive

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of aggressive

1 having or showing a bold forcefulness in the pursuit of a goal

if you donʼt take a more aggressive approach to this yard pretty soon, the weeds are going to take over completely

Synonyms of aggressive

ambitious, assertive, enterprising, fierce, go-getting, high-pressure, in-your-face, militant, pushy, self-asserting, self-assertive

Words Related to aggressive

argumentative, bellicose, belligerent, combative, contentious, discordant, disputatious, gladiatorial, militant, pugnacious, quarrelsome, trigger-happy, truculent, warlike

hyperaggressive, overambitious

dynamic, energetic, enterprising, gung ho, hustling, strenuous, vigorous

emphatic, obtrusive

adventuresome, adventurous, daring, dashing, emboldened, gutsy, venturesome, venturous

audacious, bold, brash, brassy, bumptious, cheeky, cocksure, cocky, confident, determined, forward, impudent, insolent, overconfident, presumptuous, unapologetic, unsubdued, unyielding

bare-knuckle (also bare-knuckled), feisty, scrappy

dominating, domineering, imperious, lordly, magisterial, overbearing

Near Antonyms of aggressive

easygoing, laid-back, relaxed

acquiescent, amenable, compliant, deferential, docile, resigned, submissive, tractable, yielding

cowering, cringing, groveling (or grovelling), shrinking

bashful, demure, diffident, humble, lowly, meek, mild, modest, mousy (or mousey), overmodest, passive, quiet, reserved, retiring, shy, subdued, timid, unobtrusive

obsequious, servile, slavish, subservient

Antonyms of aggressive

ambitionless, low-pressure, nonassertive, unaggressive, unambitious, unassertive, unenterprising

2 feeling or displaying eagerness to fight

a kindergarten teacher who discourages aggressive behavior, like pushing, by rewarding those children who wait their turn

Synonyms of aggressive

agonistic, argumentative, assaultive, bellicose, belligerent, brawly, chippy, combative, confrontational, contentious, discordant, disputatious, feisty, gladiatorial, militant, pugnacious, quarrelsome, scrappy, truculent, warlike

Words Related to aggressive

antagonistic, fierce, hostile, hot-tempered

acidic, bearish, bilious, bristly, choleric, crabby, cranky, cross, disagreeable, dyspeptic, fractious, fretful, grouchy, grumpy, huffy, ill-humored, ill-natured, ill-tempered, irascible, irritable, ornery, peevish, pettish, petulant, prickly, querulous, rude, snappish, snappy, stroppy [British], surly, testy, touchy, ugly, waspish

savage, vicious

battling, fighting, warring

Phrases Synonymous with aggressive

Near Antonyms of aggressive

anti-imperialist, antimilitarist, unwarlike

affable, amiable, amicable, benevolent, complaisant, conciliatory, cordial, easygoing, friendly, genial, good-natured, good-tempered, gracious, ingratiating, kindhearted, obliging, pleasant, sociable

calm, quiet, relaxed, serene, tranquil

benign, gentle, kindly, mild

Antonyms of aggressive

nonaggressive, nonbelligerent, pacific, peaceable, peaceful, unbelligerent, uncombative, uncontentious

3 marked by or uttered with forcefulness

the team's game strategy depends on a very aggressive style of defense

Synonyms of aggressive

assertive, dynamic, emphatic, energetic, forceful, full-blooded, muscular, resounding, strenuous, vehement, vigorous, violent

Words Related to aggressive

decided, insistent, marked, pointed

absolute, categorical (also categoric), clear, plain, unambiguous, unequivocal

arresting, compelling, conspicuous, impelling, noticeable, striking

Near Antonyms of aggressive

guarded, mild, uncompelling, weak, wishy-washy

ambiguous, equivocal, halting, hesitant

Antonyms of aggressive

nonassertive, nonemphatic, unemphatic

Synonym Discussion of aggressive

aggressive, militant, assertive, self-assertive 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

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

assertive suggests bold self-confidence in expression of opinion.

- the more assertive speakers dominated the forum

self-assertive connotes forwardness or brash self-confidence.

- a self-assertive young upstart

Learn More about aggressive

See words that rhyme with aggressive Dictionary: Definition of aggressive Medical Dictionary: Definition of aggressive Spanish Central: Translation of aggressive Nglish: Translation of aggressive for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of aggressive for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up aggressive? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments

WORD OF THE DAY

bower

a shady place in a garden or forest

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games