assertive

[uh-sur-tiv]

adjective

1. confidently aggressive or self-assured; positive: aggressive; dogmatic.

   He is too assertive as a salesman.

   Synonyms: forward, decisive, forceful

2. having a distinctive or pronounced taste or aroma.

assertive

/ əˈsɜːtɪv /

adjective

1. confident and direct in claiming one's rights or putting forward one's views

2. given to making assertions or bold demands; dogmatic or aggressive

Other Word Forms

• assertively adverb
• assertiveness noun
• nonassertive adjective
• nonassertively adverb
• nonassertiveness noun
• overassertive adjective
• overassertively adverb
• overassertiveness noun
• pseudoassertive adjective
• pseudoassertively adverb
• unassertive adjective
• unassertively adverb
• unassertiveness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of assertive¹

First recorded in 1555–65; assert + -ive

Example Sentences

A group of white political leaders incensed by the rise of assertive Native leaders in the “Red Power” era had embarked on a campaign to limit the reach of tribal governments.

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It often fell to Cheney, not President Bush, to make an assertive, unapologetic case for the American-led wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and for the controversial antiterrorism measures such as the Guantánamo Bay prison.

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And that set the tone for a more assertive and aggressive England showing that was absent at Wembley.

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"The Tata Trusts nominees have a veto right in major company decisions, but it is understood that theirs is basically a supervisory role, not an assertive one," said the source.

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"Managing an increasingly assertive China remains India's long-term challenge," the newspaper added.

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Related Words

• confident 
• decisive 
• emphatic 
• forceful 
• insistent 
• pushy 
• self-assured 
• self-confident www.thesaurus.com

When To Use

What does assertive mean?

Assertive commonly means confident and direct when trying to get what one wants or saying what one wants to say. It can also mean aggressive, forceful, or having a tendency to make demands.These two meanings are typically applied to people, their personalities, or their actions. Assertive is sometimes also applied to food to mean having a bold flavor.Example: If you want your work to be noticed, you have to be more assertive—you can’t just sit quietly at every meeting.