aggressive

[ uh-gres-iv ]

adjective

1. characterized by or tending toward unprovoked offensives, attacks, invasions, or the like; militantly forward or menacing:

   aggressive acts against a neighboring country.

   Synonyms: militant, pugnacious

   Antonyms: friendly

2. making an all-out effort to win or succeed; competitive:

   an aggressive basketball player.

   Synonyms: assertive, enterprising, forceful

   Antonyms: hesitant, timid, shy, retiring

3. vigorously energetic, especially in the use of initiative and forcefulness:

   an aggressive salesperson.

4. boldly assertive and forward; pushy:

   an aggressive driver.

5. emphasizing maximum growth and capital gains over quality, security, and income:

   an aggressive mutual fund.

6. Medicine/Medical.
   1. (of a disease or tumor) growing or spreading rapidly; highly invasive; difficult or impossible to treat successfully:

      aggressive brain lesions.

   2. pertaining to a risky surgery or treatment, or to a medication that has grave side effects:

      aggressive chemotherapy.

7. (of a plant) spreading more rapidly than is desirable; tending to spread where not wanted:

   The joe-pye weed may be too aggressive to contain in the small area you’ve designated.

aggressive

/ əˈɡrɛsɪv /

adjective

1. quarrelsome or belligerent

   an aggressive remark

2. assertive; vigorous

   an aggressive business executive

Derived Forms

• agˈgressiveness, noun
• agˈgressively, adverb

Other Words From

• ag·gressive·ly adverb
• ag·gressive·ness ag·gres·siv·i·ty [ag-re-, siv, -i-tee], noun
• anti·ag·gressive adjective
• hyper·ag·gressive adjective
• over·ag·gressive adjective
• over·ag·gressive·ness noun
• super·ag·gressive adjective
• unag·gressive adjective
• unag·gressive·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of aggressive¹

First recorded in 1690–1700; from Late Latin aggressīvus, derivative of Latin aggressus, past participle of aggredī “to go to, approach, attack”

Example Sentences

"We have to be aggressive but in a smart way, especially because they are a big threat from set-pieces. If you want to talk about tactics, first you have to match their work-rate."

From BBC

"This technique tells us how aggressive an ovarian cancer tumour is, and could allow doctors to assess multiple tumours in a patient to give a more holistic assessment of disease prognosis so the most appropriate treatment can be selected," said Professor Kevin Brindle in the University of Cambridge's Department of Biochemistry, senior author of the report.

From Science Daily

Brindle, who also works at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, has been developing this imaging technique to investigate different cancers for the last two decades, including breast, prostate and glioblastoma -- a common and aggressive type of brain tumour.

From Science Daily

“Our county’s aggressive approach to those who sell this poison sends a message that cannot be ignored: stay away from our kids. I will honor Kade’s memory by continuing this fight and ensure our policy makers hold these death dealers accountable.”

From Los Angeles Times

Those two agencies are now in Kennedy's crosshairs, with the anti-vaccine activist and science skeptic declaring that Trump's return to office will mark an end to their "war on public health," as would their "aggressive suppression" of raw milk.

From Salon

Related Words

• bold
• cocky
• dynamic
• energetic
• forceful
• smart
• tough
• vigorous
• zealous