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Synonyms

aggressor

American  
[uh-gres-er] / əˈgrɛs ər /

noun

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


Etymology

Origin of aggressor

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The next day, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel warned that "any external aggressor will encounter an unbreakable resistance."

From Barron's • Mar. 21, 2026

Will then lurches into a tut-tutting recapitulation of the French army chief of staff’s public statement that his nation’s people must accept the risk of losing their children to protect France from an unnamed aggressor.

From Salon • Dec. 20, 2025

The bloodshed caused outrage among Syrians, who view Israel as an aggressor.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 28, 2025

She has this way of going between victim and aggressor.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 17, 2025

The audience broke into applause, with yells of "Shame to the aggressor! Shame to the aggressor!"

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau