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
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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
Conflict reached a height of intensity during the Kennedy administration, when an assertive American president figuratively collided directly with imperious President Charles de Gaulle of France.
—
Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 22 July 2025
During the first six months of the Trump presidency, an assertive executive branch has wrested some budgetary power from Congress.
—Doug Criscitello, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
At the core of Guardian Litigation Group is a team that’s assertive, creative, and unwavering attorneys who think outside the box to secure the best results, all while upholding the highest standards of honesty, integrity, and trust.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 26 July 2025
He can be physically manhandled when attempting to seal powerful defensive ends and needs to be more assertive with his hands to keep his target engaged as a run blocker.
—Dane Brugler, New York Times, 24 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for assertive
Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 22 July 2025
During the first six months of the Trump presidency, an assertive executive branch has wrested some budgetary power from Congress.
—Doug Criscitello, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
At the core of Guardian Litigation Group is a team that’s assertive, creative, and unwavering attorneys who think outside the box to secure the best results, all while upholding the highest standards of honesty, integrity, and trust.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 26 July 2025
He can be physically manhandled when attempting to seal powerful defensive ends and needs to be more assertive with his hands to keep his target engaged as a run blocker.
—Dane Brugler, New York Times, 24 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for assertive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assertive
Adjective
-
Potential Fed chair David Zervos backs an aggressive rate cut.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Poor oral hygiene allows plaque bacteria to produce acids that contribute to decay, while aggressive brushing can physically wear away the enamel surface.—
Thomas Westerholm,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Zayn’s emphatic, lightning quick victory at WWE SummerSlam may not bode well for the future of Kross.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
2 Aug. 2025
-
Now, 51 percent of you are emphatic Kaprizov is staying (compared to just 17 percent last year).—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
31 July 2025
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
Adjective
-
Skip intense workouts since caffeine can raise your heart rate, and vigorous exercise could make symptoms like shakiness or anxiety feel worse.4 3.—
Brandi Jones,
Verywell Health,
5 Aug. 2025
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Scientific theories about the origin of the universe often involve a vigorous give-and-take between speculation and discovery.—
Sean M. Carroll,
The New York Review of Books,
31 July 2025
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
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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
Adjective
-
This dynamic, automated and tamper-proof validation offered superior assurance compared to traditional static reporting methods.—
Mirror Tang,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
-
So the references to the father-son dynamic — including several The Suicide Squad clips used as flashbacks — can feel on the silly side.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
15 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Assertive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assertive. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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