aggressor

[ uh-gres-er ]

/ əˈgrɛs ər /

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

Nearby words

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

And in many cases the appropriate response to an invasion has been a declaration of war against the aggressor.
Is the U.S. Enabling Putin's Invasion?|Christopher Dickey|August 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When passions are enflamed, people will be less willing to sit down and negotiate with someone they view as an aggressor.
Venezuela Burns, Body Count Rises|Juan Nagel|March 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Davis begins the film, punched by an aggressor into the gutter and ends it the same way.
Why No Oscar Love For 'Inside Llewyn Davis'?|Tim Teeman|January 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Gladwell claims that the officer was trying to restrain his dogs while Gadsden was the aggressor.
Malcolm Gladwell In Five Minutes: What to Know to Pretend You’ve Read the New Book|Thomas Flynn|October 5, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Going back to square one would be an unjust outcome and a prize to the aggressor.
Excitement Over Land Swaps Is Misplaced|Dani Dayan|May 7, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Plato approves of war conducted so far, as to compel the aggressor to indemnify the injured and the innocent.
The Rights of War and Peace|Hugo Grotius
Yet the wounded man, getting hold of his cattan, wounded the aggressor.
A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Volume IX.|Robert Kerr
It is in this way that nature seems to prepare a punishment for the aggressor.
Economic Sophisms|Frederic Bastiat
Thus the majority of the Chamber, with the clearest warning of danger, insisted on giving the aggressor every possible advantage.
History of Modern Europe 1972-1878|C. A. Fyffe
From the start, however, Sheridan was the aggressor and Hampton was forced to fight a defensive battle.
Personal Recollections of a Cavalryman|J. H. (James Harvey) Kidd

1670s, from Latin aggressor, agent noun from aggredi (see aggression).