1
as in aggressive
having or showing a bold forcefulness in the pursuit of a goal
some reef fish are assertive in defending their territory
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in emphatic
marked by or uttered with forcefulness
after months of assertive declarations that he would not run for president, he announced he was running
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of assertive
Lehrer and Louis are a natural double act, Louis’s assertive bluntness contrasting nicely with Lehrer’s dead-air calm.
—
Eric Lach, New Yorker, 8 June 2025
Speaking in Singapore on Saturday, Hegseth said Washington will strengthen its overseas defenses in response to what the Pentagon views as rapidly escalating threats, particularly due to an increasingly assertive posture toward Taiwan.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 June 2025
Teodoro, who has strongly echoed Marcos' criticisms of China's increasingly assertive actions in the South China Sea, will remain in his post, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin told a news conference.
—Arkansas Online, 30 May 2025
In the meantime, what’s notable is his eagerness to take on the former vice president, positioning himself as the most vocal and assertive of her potential gubernatorial rivals.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for assertive
Eric Lach, New Yorker, 8 June 2025
Speaking in Singapore on Saturday, Hegseth said Washington will strengthen its overseas defenses in response to what the Pentagon views as rapidly escalating threats, particularly due to an increasingly assertive posture toward Taiwan.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 June 2025
Teodoro, who has strongly echoed Marcos' criticisms of China's increasingly assertive actions in the South China Sea, will remain in his post, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin told a news conference.
—Arkansas Online, 30 May 2025
In the meantime, what’s notable is his eagerness to take on the former vice president, positioning himself as the most vocal and assertive of her potential gubernatorial rivals.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for assertive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assertive
Adjective
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But even in Alberta, a province that has favored development, the legacy policies are still likely not aggressive enough to meet the moment.—
Mark Le Dain,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
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Most recently the administration asked the Supreme Court to clear the way for downsizing the federal workforce despite multiple court rulings that congressional approval is needed to make such aggressive reductions.—
Ragan Whitlock,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 June 2025
Adjective
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The San Francisco Giants answered any remaining questions about their hopes of contending this season with an emphatic move to bring in slugger Rafael Devers from the Boston Red Sox.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 June 2025
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Sure, the No. 3 pick of the 2018 draft revived his formerly flailing career in an emphatic way last season, injecting himself into the MVP conversation while leading the Minnesota Vikings to the brink of the NFC’s No. 1 playoff seed.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
19 June 2025
Adjective
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This year’s edition, moreover, is more ambitious than ever.—
Essie Assibu,
Variety,
24 June 2025
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The project follows efforts from fellow emirate Dubai to transform its city into a walkable one, while nearby Saudi Arabia is even more ambitious with its incredible building spree, including the JEC Tower and the Line.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
24 June 2025
Adjective
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That means doing your best to get in at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity exercise, or 75 minutes a week of vigorous exercise, along with two days of strength training, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).—
Korin Miller,
Flow Space,
16 June 2025
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But that narrative hasn't stuck to Trump, who is known to ramble in public speeches but comes off as more vigorous to the public than Biden did.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
15 June 2025
Adjective
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Swart said another giveaway is the hotel accommodations that are arranged for violent rioters.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
21 June 2025
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The appellate panel found Trump likely satisfied the legal threshold under Section 10 of the U.S. Code, and sided with the administration’s argument that local law enforcement had failed to contain violent attacks on federal agents and property.—
Daniel Hunt,
Sacbee.com,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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Organizations that master this dynamic gain more than smoother project workflows.—
ESMT Berlin,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
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Soon, such models may be able to account for the role played by environmental exposures and chance—offering a more dynamic, individualized map of risk.—
Siddhartha Mukherjee,
New Yorker,
16 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Assertive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assertive. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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