aggressive
characterized by or tending toward unprovoked offensives, attacks, invasions, or the like; militantly forward or menacing: aggressive acts against a neighboring country.
making an all-out effort to win or succeed; competitive: an aggressive basketball player.
vigorously energetic, especially in the use of initiative and forcefulness: an aggressive salesperson.
boldly assertive and forward; pushy: an aggressive driver.
emphasizing maximum growth and capital gains over quality, security, and income: an aggressive mutual fund.
Medicine/Medical.
(of a disease or tumor) growing or spreading rapidly; highly invasive; difficult or impossible to treat successfully: aggressive brain lesions.
pertaining to a risky surgery or treatment, or to a medication that has grave side effects: aggressive chemotherapy.
(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.
Origin of aggressive
1Other words for aggressive
Opposites for aggressive
Other words from aggressive
- ag·gres·sive·ly, adverb
- ag·gres·sive·ness, ag·gres·siv·i·ty [ag-re-siv-i-tee], /ˌæg rɛˈsɪv ɪ ti/, 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
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use aggressive in a sentence
So the next step could be exploring whether or not the more aggressive caterpillars grow into aggressive butterflies, he says.
Monarch caterpillars head-butt each other to fight for scarce food | Curtis Segarra | November 19, 2020 | Science NewsMeanwhile, the delta’s tigers are becoming more aggressive because of the changing climate, Mondol says.
When we looked at this 12 months ago, we were looking at an aggressive strategy to build on the strengths we have.
‘An aggressive strategy’: Verizon Media Group keeps pouring resources into commerce | Max Willens | November 18, 2020 | DigidayThat’s given Republicans an electoral advantage, which they’ve in turn used to stack electoral rules in their favor through aggressive gerrymandering, favorable Supreme Court decisions, and more.
The crisis isn’t too much polarization. It’s too little democracy. | Ezra Klein | November 12, 2020 | VoxIt’s a not-so-scientific theory from Freud’s 1920 book Beyond the Pleasure Principle that suggests people exhibit this instinct outwardly, with actions that are aggressive, risky, or harmful.
Nothing compares to the lack of transparency, and the aggressiveness of this administration.
Was Reporter Sharyl Attkisson Too Right-Wing for CBS? | Lloyd Grove | October 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTNote the grabbing aggressiveness of the hands as she is led into the netherworld, particularly the one in between her legs.
Randy was channeling his alleged aggressiveness into expanding the business to Chicago.
But he hurt himself with a chip-on-the-shoulder demeanor and attack-dog aggressiveness against Mitt Romney.
It serves us well in our home city, but perhaps gives us an unwanted air of paranoia and aggressiveness in, say, Hailey, Idaho.
The Aurora Shooting Made One Prominent Hollywood Producer Too Scared to Go to The Multiplex | Rick Schwartz | August 26, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTThe percept has an aggressiveness which does not belong to the image.
The Analysis of Mind | Bertrand RussellAs in the preceding period, the aggressiveness of the trade societies eventually gave rise to combative masters' associations.
A History of Trade Unionism in the United States | Selig PerlmanMy most vigorous applications of the rod appear powerless to curb this aggressiveness.
Mothering on Perilous | Lucy S. FurmanMeanwhile the teachers in the State schools increased in boldness and aggressiveness.
The War Upon Religion | Rev. Francis A. CunninghamAnd Sally answered, with a little fright at the sudden aggressiveness she had procured.
British Dictionary definitions for aggressive
/ (əˈɡrɛsɪv) /
quarrelsome or belligerent: an aggressive remark
assertive; vigorous: an aggressive business executive
Derived forms of aggressive
- aggressively, adverb
- aggressiveness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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