as in intensity
the quality or state of being forceful (as in expression)
the assertiveness with which he voices his opinions intimidates some people
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Recent Examples of assertiveness
But any agreement reached will be just one touchstone in a thorny and volatile great power rivalry between the world’s superpower democracy and an authoritarian China, whose growing military assertiveness under Xi in the East and South China Seas is rattling US allies in the region.
—
Betsy Klein, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
Barack Obama, for example, began a pivot to Asia in part to address concerns about China’s assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.
—Mira Rapp-Hooper, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
Murray’s blend of assertiveness and steadiness, of style and substance, has been a defining trait behind that start.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 28 Oct. 2025
Diplomacy, Tact & Emotional Intelligence, where leaders need to navigate the complex dynamics (both on the individual and organizational levels) which are involved in shifting from competition to collaboration—balancing assertiveness with empathy and care.
—Edyta Pacuk, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Living with Israel’s military assertiveness Israel, the unquestioned military power and sole nuclear weapons state in the region, has long posed particularly deep political dilemmas to Gulf Arab states.
—David Mednicoff, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2025
The deployment signaled growing international assertiveness by the isolated state and highlighted its strong ties with Russia.
—Robert Birsel
john Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
With Hazard’s permission, Lauper dramatically rewrote the track, transforming it into a feminist statement emphasizing female desire, exuberance and assertiveness.
—Jessi Roti, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2025
Don't let our stubbornness and assertiveness take over.
—Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 6 Aug. 2025
Betsy Klein, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
Barack Obama, for example, began a pivot to Asia in part to address concerns about China’s assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.
—Mira Rapp-Hooper, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
Murray’s blend of assertiveness and steadiness, of style and substance, has been a defining trait behind that start.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 28 Oct. 2025
Diplomacy, Tact & Emotional Intelligence, where leaders need to navigate the complex dynamics (both on the individual and organizational levels) which are involved in shifting from competition to collaboration—balancing assertiveness with empathy and care.
—Edyta Pacuk, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Living with Israel’s military assertiveness Israel, the unquestioned military power and sole nuclear weapons state in the region, has long posed particularly deep political dilemmas to Gulf Arab states.
—David Mednicoff, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2025
The deployment signaled growing international assertiveness by the isolated state and highlighted its strong ties with Russia.
—Robert Birsel
john Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
With Hazard’s permission, Lauper dramatically rewrote the track, transforming it into a feminist statement emphasizing female desire, exuberance and assertiveness.
—Jessi Roti, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2025
Don't let our stubbornness and assertiveness take over.
—Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assertiveness
Noun
-
Their weakness is an inability to maintain a consistent intensity throughout an entire game.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The country’s meteorological agency PAGASA upgraded the storm to a super typhoon on its intensity scale, recording maximum wind speeds of 185 kph (115 mph) and gusts of 230 kph (143 mph).—
Laura Sharman,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Just nothing, not dictating at the point of attack, no aggressiveness to it at all.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Prostate cancers are graded for aggressiveness in the Gleason grading system, which ranges from 6 to 10, with 10 being the most aggressive.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The arresting officer belongs to the Atlanta Police Department’s controversial Crime Suppression Unit—a group known for its aggressive tactics and emphasis on high arrest numbers rather than genuine public safety.—
Mitchell Peters,
Billboard,
8 Nov. 2025
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That focus explains the emphasis on speed, balance, and extreme agility in its public demonstrations.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Assertiveness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assertiveness. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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