as in invader
one that starts armed conflict against another especially without reasonable cause
a group of smaller states had formed an alliance to deter potential aggressors
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Recent Examples of aggressor
However, as Rothbard lays out, one of the most important concepts that often gets lost or forgotten in the fog of war is that violence may only be used to resist or punish the aggressor.
—
Connor Okeeffe, Oc Register, 29 Mar. 2026
Two defense witnesses, including the doctor and a receptionist, supported her account, saying Ellis appeared to be the aggressor.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 26 Mar. 2026
Congress, in contrast, has declared war in only five conflicts and only after an aggressor had already broken the peace, for example, Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor.
—Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 23 Mar. 2026
Phillips’ attorney, Ivan Rodriguez, has sharply disputed the prosecution’s version of events, telling KTVU that his client was not the aggressor and that video evidence shows the officer initiated physical contact.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for aggressor
Connor Okeeffe, Oc Register, 29 Mar. 2026
Two defense witnesses, including the doctor and a receptionist, supported her account, saying Ellis appeared to be the aggressor.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 26 Mar. 2026
Congress, in contrast, has declared war in only five conflicts and only after an aggressor had already broken the peace, for example, Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor.
—Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 23 Mar. 2026
Phillips’ attorney, Ivan Rodriguez, has sharply disputed the prosecution’s version of events, telling KTVU that his client was not the aggressor and that video evidence shows the officer initiated physical contact.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for aggressor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aggressor
Noun
-
Foreign invaders, including the Iranian ruler Nadir Shah and the Afghan king Ahmad Shah Abdali (also called Ahmad Shah Durrani), routed the Mughals.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
14 Apr. 2026
-
With some of the labels now calling the AI labs partners, the platforms have looked to posture themselves not as invaders but as music companies themselves.—
Ethan Millman,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Replacing one wealthy father for another in corporate raider Peltz apparently does just that, as Brand Beckham Peltz is now assured of celebrity and wealth without any unseemly promotional hustle.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Apr. 2026
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The Vikings were raiders, pirates, traders, explorers, and colonizers who traveled far beyond their homeland in Scandinavia between the 9th and 11 centuries.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The 18-year-old attacker, armed with a shotgun, fired randomly at a vocational high school in Siverek, Sanliurfa province, before hiding inside the building.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
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The attacker did not have a criminal record, Sildak said.—
Suzan Fraser,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Aggressor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggressor. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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