aggressively

American  

[uh-gres-iv-lee] / əˈgrɛs ɪv li /

adverb

1. in an aggressive, militant, or menacing manner.

   The orders were to root out the entrenched rebels, swiftly and aggressively.

2. in a highly competitive manner; with an aggressive effort to win.

   The series was aggressively played by both teams.

3. in a vigorously or forcefully enterprising manner; ambitiously.

   an aggressively marketed line of cosmetics.

4. in a pushy or boldly assertive manner.

   They continue to lobby aggressively for a safer workplace.

5. Medicine/Medical.

   1. (of a disease’s or tumor’s viability) in a rapid and vigorous, highly invasive manner.

      The cancer has aggressively branched out to his lower intestine.

   2. in a highly potent, therapeutic, but risky manner, intended to destroy malignancy.

      Can the treatment aggressively target the tumor without harming healthy tissue?

6. (of a plant’s growth habit) with an undesirable tendency to spread rapidly, especially where unwanted.

   Wild lotuses have aggressively flourished in both ponds, much to the dismay of local canoeists.

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Other Word Forms

• nonaggressively adverb
• overaggressively adverb
• unaggressively adverb

Etymology

Origin of aggressively

First recorded in 1790–95; aggressive ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )

Example Sentences

Last year, these investors bought stocks aggressively during selloffs.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

Following a back pass, Brighton aggressively applied pressure across the pitch in a co-ordinated manner.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

Kering had spent aggressively in recent years, acquiring trophy properties on Fifth Avenue in New York and Via Montenapoleone in Milan, and spending roughly $3.5 billion buying the fragrance house Creed.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

As prices begin to retreat, consumers often stop shopping around as aggressively as when prices were rising sharply and stop looking for the station with the lowest price.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

She pressed her ears forward aggressively and lifted her tail.

From "Julie of the Wolves" by Jean Craighead George