aggressive

[ uh-gres-iv ]

/ əˈgrɛs ɪv /

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See synonyms for: aggressive / aggressiveness on Thesaurus.com

adjective

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR aggressive

1 pugnacious, militant.

2 forceful, enterprising, assertive.

See synonyms for aggressive on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR aggressive

1 friendly.

2 retiring, shy, timid, hesitant.

See antonyms for aggressive on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of aggressive

First recorded in 1690–1700; from Late Latin aggressīvus, derivative of Latin aggressus, past participle of aggredī “to go to, approach, attack”

OTHER WORDS FROM aggressive

ag·gres·sive·ly, adverbag·gres·sive·ness, ag·gres·siv·i·ty

[ag-re-siv-i-tee], /ˌæg rɛˈsɪv ɪ ti/, nounan·ti·ag·gres·sive, adjectivehy·per·ag·gres·sive, adjective

o·ver·ag·gres·sive, adjectiveo·ver·ag·gres·sive·ness, nounsu·per·ag·gres·sive, adjectiveun·ag·gres·sive, adjectiveun·ag·gres·sive·ness, noun

British Dictionary definitions for aggressive

aggressive

/ (əˈɡrɛsɪv) /

adjective

quarrelsome or belligerentan aggressive remark

assertive; vigorousan aggressive business executive

Derived forms of aggressive

aggressively, adverbaggressiveness, 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

aggressive

OTHER WORDS FOR aggressive

OPPOSITES FOR aggressive

Origin of aggressive

OTHER WORDS FROM aggressive

Words related to aggressive

British Dictionary definitions for aggressive

Derived forms of aggressive