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
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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
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of assertive
James Santel, The Atlantic, 8 May 2025
And Munir, who is known for his hardline stance on Hindu-nationalist Modi, has a reputation of being more assertive than his predecessor Qamar Javed Bajwa.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 8 May 2025
Seely also believes that ever since the Chicago Public Library started working with mental health consultant NAMI Chicago, staffers have been more assertive in issuing harsher suspensions for patrons who are verbally abusive toward them.
—Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 7 May 2025
In 2020, he was awarded South Carolina’s top honor for assertive journalism.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for assertive
Adjective
In the mid-1970s, thanks to an inquisitive press and a newly assertive Congress, the public began to learn about the CIA’s more outlandish undertakings: not just coups and killings but also mind-control experiments (the notorious MKUltra program) and the surveillance of American citizens.
—James Santel, The Atlantic, 8 May 2025
And Munir, who is known for his hardline stance on Hindu-nationalist Modi, has a reputation of being more assertive than his predecessor Qamar Javed Bajwa.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 8 May 2025
Seely also believes that ever since the Chicago Public Library started working with mental health consultant NAMI Chicago, staffers have been more assertive in issuing harsher suspensions for patrons who are verbally abusive toward them.
—Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 7 May 2025
In 2020, he was awarded South Carolina’s top honor for assertive journalism.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for assertive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assertive
Adjective
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Even so, the aggressive play in this post-season has stood out.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
11 May 2025
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However, thanks to aggressive conservation efforts, including predator control programs, habitat restoration, and breeding initiatives, several kiwi species have seen rebounds.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
Adjective
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Since his emphatic win at Oak Hill two years ago, Brooks Koepka has failed to post a top-10 at a major championship.—
Kevin Sabet,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 May 2025
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However, Lincoln-Sudbury had an answer, and an emphatic one at that as goaltender Rex Garozzo jogged up the field with possession.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
14 May 2025
Noun
-
The narrative, though minimal, resonates through its intensity and restraint.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
9 May 2025
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There has to be urgency, there has to be force, there has to be intensity, there has to [be] concentration.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
9 May 2025
Adjective
-
This intensive research helps weed out goals that are genuinely unrealistic or, while ambitious, are already being solved by the market.—
Dev Patnaik,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2025
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At a 1956 meeting with a research director at the U.S. Weather Bureau (a precursor to the National Weather Service), Keeling made an ambitious pitch: continuously monitoring CO2 using a gas analyzer, a high-tech but as-yet-unproven tool for the job.—
Ashley Braun,
Smithsonian Magazine,
19 May 2025
Adjective
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Meanwhile, Carroll Gardens has been swept up in the vigorous market for Brooklyn townhouses in general — contract signings were up 11 percent last year, according to Serhant.—
Kim Velsey,
Curbed,
8 May 2025
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Despite vigorous opposition from Congressional Democrats and conservation groups, the House Natural Resource Committee early this morning approved a budget bill that includes a provision to sell thousands of acres of federal land in Nevada and Utah.—
Andrew McKean,
Outdoor Life,
7 May 2025
Adjective
-
Europeans, Australians and Americans organized violent, racially motivated riots and lawmakers began enacting anti-Chinese immigration legislation, according to Encyclopaedia Britannica.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
16 May 2025
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Some liberal critics on social media say that Republicans did not seem to take issue when the same slogan — or even more violent rhetoric — was targeted at a Democratic president.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
16 May 2025
Adjective
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Really? Decades ago, at Albertus Magnus College, my class in modern poetry was taught by Sister Norma, a dynamic nun who had written her Ph.D. dissertation on William Butler Yeats.—
Patricia Schultheis,
Baltimore Sun,
11 May 2025
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Portable training accounts, which follow workers across jobs, would provide continuity in a dynamic economy.—
Lynn Forester de Rothschild,
Time,
11 May 2025
Noun
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The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, led by its chairman Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), held an event focused on expanding access to charter schools, with an emphasis on how Congress and the Education Department plan to ensure the schools have sufficient facilities and capital.—
Elaine Mallon,
The Washington Examiner,
15 May 2025
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That has led to an increased emphasis on advertising tiers, crackdowns on password sharing and more streaming service bundles.—
Sarah Whitten,Alex Sherman,Lillian Rizzo,
CNBC,
14 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Assertive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assertive. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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