1
as in aggressive
having or showing a bold forcefulness in the pursuit of a goal
we need to hire self-assertive salespeople who don't require constant supervision
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in arrogant
having a feeling of superiority that shows itself in an overbearing attitude
after the interview, we chose a less self-assertive and more self-effacing applicant
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of self-assertive
The Oxford English Dictionary cites an early use of the term by psychologist David Bakan, who used it in a 1966 essay to describe the self-assertive qualities of the psyche.
—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
25 Mar. 2026
And while the visions of uncannily artificial paradise might recall Rousseau, or the curvy, geometrically rounded bodies suggest the work of Colombian Fernando Botero, Angulo’s young women appear more self-aware and self-assertive than the subjects of either of those artists.
—
Benjamin Lima,
Dallas Morning News,
5 Feb. 2026
The only really odious members of the party will, of course, be those termed the Young, who are almost certain to prove fast, rude, and self-assertive.
—
Nancy Mitford,
Vogue,
24 Dec. 2023
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
25 Mar. 2026
And while the visions of uncannily artificial paradise might recall Rousseau, or the curvy, geometrically rounded bodies suggest the work of Colombian Fernando Botero, Angulo’s young women appear more self-aware and self-assertive than the subjects of either of those artists.
—
Benjamin Lima,
Dallas Morning News,
5 Feb. 2026
The only really odious members of the party will, of course, be those termed the Young, who are almost certain to prove fast, rude, and self-assertive.
—
Nancy Mitford,
Vogue,
24 Dec. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-assertive
Adjective
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Grey-zone tactics refer to a range of aggressive tactics that vary from navy ship patrols to drone flights, but fall short of direct combat.
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That will be decided in the coming hours, as the Heat remains in aggressive pursuit of a trade for Antetokounmpo.
Adjective
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The passage is incoherent, yet, in conflating progressive reform with arrogant blind faith, it is perfectly suited to Vance’s cynical conservatism.
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To no one’s surprise, Bonnie is immediately transfixed by her Lilypad (voiced by Greta Lee, whose arrogant smarm effectively threads the needle between Maya Hawke’s Anxiety and Regina George’s everything else).
Adjective
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With ambitious Mars in your 2nd House of Resources sextiling lucky Jupiter in your 4th House of Home, money choices gather momentum and support.
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Holmes, 26, had ambitious plans for the winnings.
Adjective
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The 2023 arrest of her then-10-year-old cousin for urinating in public brought fierce condemnation.
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For a party that prides itself on diversity, the clashes have exacerbated fierce debates over identity politics and long-standing rifts between progressives and moderates.
Cite this Entry
“Self-assertive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-assertive. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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