Thesaurus

assertive

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of assertive

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

some reef fish are assertive in defending their territory

Synonyms of assertive

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

Words Related to assertive

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 assertive

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 assertive

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

2 marked by or uttered with forcefulness

after months of assertive declarations that he would not run for president, he announced he was running

Synonyms of assertive

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

Words Related to assertive

decided, insistent, marked, pointed

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

arresting, compelling, conspicuous, impelling, noticeable, striking

Near Antonyms of assertive

guarded, mild, uncompelling, weak, wishy-washy

ambiguous, equivocal, halting, hesitant

Antonyms of assertive

nonassertive, nonemphatic, unemphatic

Synonym Discussion of assertive

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 assertive

Dictionary: Definition of assertive Spanish Central: Translation of assertive Nglish: Translation of assertive for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of assertive for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

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

show comments

WORD OF THE DAY

acceptation

a generally accepted meaning of a word

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games