aggressor

[uh-gres-er]

noun

1. a person, group, or nation that attacks first or initiates hostilities; an assailant or invader.

Word History and Origins

Origin of aggressor¹

1670–80; < Late Latin, Latin aggred- (stem of aggredī to attack; aggress ) + -tor -tor

Example Sentences

Buddy, not Odd, comes off as the aggressor.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Video footage showed the federal agents’ vehicles were the aggressors, ramming the other vehicles first.

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"The aggressor", he concludes, "will observe, adjust, repeat – until they get through".

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They go on to "categorically refute" the allegations of violence and "contest that Celtic FC and Police Scotland were both the architects and aggressors in this incident."

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Speaking at her daily news conference, Sheinbaum said that she had filed a criminal complaint against her aggressor, whom authorities said was drunk at the time of the incident and had been detained.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• assailant 
• intruder www.thesaurus.com
• invader www.thesaurus.com
• trespasser www.thesaurus.com