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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 But that jubilation quickly turns into a night of violence when Coop is beaten within an inch of his life by two guys hired by a crooked art gallery owner who put overly aggressive moves on his partner in crime Elena (Aimee Carrero). Rosemary Rossi, Variety, 9 May 2025 Chula Vista is one of the safest cities in California, confirming that our police department leadership is committed to serious, aggressive and fair law-enforcement. John McCann, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2025 Producers intentionally cast aggressive players, and those players are constantly reminded to play a bold game in the days leading up to the start of filming. Dalton Ross, EW.com, 8 May 2025 But in recent weeks, Musk dramatically lowered his taxpayer savings estimates from DOGE's government cuts, disagreed publicly with Trump's aggressive tariff policies and butted heads with multiple Trump officials, some publicly, revealing divisions within the White House over Musk's influence. Joey Garrison, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for aggressive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aggressive
Adjective
  • Much of World Liberty Financial's operation is still shrouded in mystery, but its founders have touted its ambitious goal of integrating their venture into the everyday traditional retail system.
    Soo Rin Kim, ABC News, 3 May 2025
  • The Budget funds a program to replace SLS and Orion flights to the Moon with more cost-effective commercial systems that would support more ambitious subsequent lunar missions.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 2 May 2025
Adjective
  • The Houthis have not claimed responsibility for the latest missile, but a spokesman for the militant group has said previous launches targeted military facilities in Israel.
    Tamar Michaelis, CNN Money, 4 May 2025
  • India may also take the stronger step of striking militant groups in Pakistan to satisfy the public’s demand for action.
    Michael Kugelman, Time, 3 May 2025
Adjective
  • Europeans, Australians and Americans organized violent, racially motivated riots and lawmakers began enacting anti-Chinese immigration legislation, according to Encyclopaedia Britannica.
    Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 May 2025
  • Combs apologized for his violent behavior soon after the video's release.
    Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • Tehran claims its program is peaceful but has threatened fierce retaliation and a possible withdrawal from the nonproliferation treaty if its nuclear sites are attacked.
    Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 8 May 2025
  • The old model of fierce independence is a luxury many can't afford during this transition.
    AllBusiness, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025
Adjective
  • And this is a very hard-line government that has taken a kind of hostile view of everybody in the region.
    Obed Manuel, NPR, 15 May 2025
  • And Marguerite did actually manage to live there for years, scraping together a life on the hostile tundra.
    The Atlantic, The Atlantic, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, Carroll Gardens has been swept up in the vigorous market for Brooklyn townhouses in general — contract signings were up 11 percent last year, according to Serhant.
    Kim Velsey, Curbed, 8 May 2025
  • Despite vigorous opposition from Congressional Democrats and conservation groups, the House Natural Resource Committee early this morning approved a budget bill that includes a provision to sell thousands of acres of federal land in Nevada and Utah.
    Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 7 May 2025
Adjective
  • And Munir, who is known for his hardline stance on Hindu-nationalist Modi, has a reputation of being more assertive than his predecessor Qamar Javed Bajwa.
    Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 8 May 2025
  • In 2020, he was awarded South Carolina’s top honor for assertive journalism.
    Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 7 May 2025
Adjective
  • This is a flawed sin; trying to make something happen in a contentious area with a bunch of people who had their own history.
    Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 2025
  • On contentious problems like TikTok’s status in America, Trump has already bucked political orthodoxy, delaying a ban repeatedly to convince China to allow its sale.
    J. Tedford Tyler, Time, 17 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Aggressive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggressive. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on aggressive

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