passive-aggressive

American  

[pas-iv-uh-gres-iv] / ˈpæs ɪv əˈgrɛs ɪv /

adjective

1. denoting or pertaining to a personality type or behavior marked by the expression of negative emotions in passive, indirect ways, as through manipulation or noncooperation.

   a passive-aggressive employee who often misses deadlines.

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passive-aggressive British  

adjective

1. psychoanal of or relating to a personality that harbours aggressive emotions while behaving in a calm or detached manner

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Usage

What does passive-aggressive mean? Passive aggressive behavior is a way to express feelings of anger or annoyance, but in a non-forthcoming way. Instead of communicating openly, people who engage in this type of behavior share their negative feelings through actions. Passive aggressive personality disorder was once also a psychiatric diagnosis.

Other Word Forms

• passive-aggression noun

Etymology

Origin of passive-aggressive

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

The conflict is often subtle, she explains, and as well as exclusion can include gossip and passive-aggressive comments.

From BBC • Jan. 17, 2026

He has historically been passive-aggressive and he has become hostile toward me.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 30, 2025

Those recipes are about the only Thanksgivingy thing about the episode, which mostly revolves around Ross being a mopey passive-aggressive jerk who has somehow become the object of two women’s affection.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 24, 2025

Coleman gets to hit some of his usual sour notes when Bill stands up to Norman’s passive-aggressive bullying, but he’s not the villain of the story this time.

From New York Times • May 18, 2024

When owners forget we are coming, he explains at one of our morning send-off meetings, it “means something,” like that they’re dissatisfied and too passive-aggressive to tell us.

From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich