assertive

[ uh-sur-tiv ]

/ əˈsɜr tɪv /

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See synonyms for: assertive / assertiveness on Thesaurus.com

adjective

confidently aggressive or self-assured; positive: aggressive; dogmatic: He is too assertive as a salesman.

having a distinctive or pronounced taste or aroma.

OTHER WORDS FOR assertive

1 forceful, decisive, forward.

See synonyms for assertive on Thesaurus.com

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“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

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Origin of assertive

First recorded in 1555–65; assert + -ive

OTHER WORDS FROM assertive

as·ser·tive·ly, adverbas·ser·tive·ness, nounnon·as·ser·tive, adjectivenon·as·ser·tive·ly, adverb

non·as·ser·tive·ness, nouno·ver·as·ser·tive, adjectiveo·ver·as·ser·tive·ly, adverbo·ver·as·ser·tive·ness, nounpseu·do·as·ser·tive, adjectivepseu·do·as·ser·tive·ly, adverbun·as·ser·tive, adjectiveun·as·ser·tive·ly, adverbun·as·ser·tive·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use assertive in a sentence

I mean, I’ve been lucky to work for so many different outlets, but I haven’t been really good about being very assertive.
Lisa Ling to Young Women: Freeze Your Eggs|Eugene Robinson|December 17, 2020|Ozy
He spoke Tuesday in a virtual news conference about incorporating an assertive, ball-dominant player such as Wall alongside Beal’s expanded skill set.
Russell Westbrook is a known quantity. The question is how he’ll fit with the Wizards.|Ava Wallace|December 3, 2020|Washington Post
In response, the Terps surged with a 21-0 run that offered a generous serving of reassurance that this team can take a worrisome circumstance and turn it into an assertive win.
Maryland faces its first test against Mount St. Mary’s and passes with flying colors|Emily Giambalvo|November 29, 2020|Washington Post
Or, consider if your job description contains exclusive or masculine language like “rockstar,” “expert” or “assertive.”
10 ways you can support women in SEO|Abby Reimer|November 24, 2020|Search Engine Land

Looks like we are being assertive, but if we are not we definitely miss out.
Women in finance have to ask for promotions. Men don’t|ehinchliffe|November 22, 2020|Fortune
Her beauty was not heightened now, but it was displayed with all the grave consciousness of an unassertive renown.
Sinister Street, vol. 2|Compton Mackenzie
In her mind she fixed him in contrast with Transley, the self-confident and aggressive, and Linder, the shy and unassertive.
Dennison Grant|Robert Stead
The Eversleighs were very fond of their house, and, in an unassertive way, proud of it.
The Mystery of Lincoln's Inn|Robert Machray
He was an unassertive, unassuming man, with a genius for being inconspicuous.
John M. Synge: A Few Personal Recollections, with Biographical Notes|John Masefield
Would not he too have been melancholy, quiet, unassertive, almost as uninteresting and uninterested as Booth was?
The Story of My Life|Ellen Terry

British Dictionary definitions for assertive

assertive

/ (əˈsɜːtɪv) /

adjective

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

given to making assertions or bold demands; dogmatic or aggressive

Derived forms of assertive

assertively, adverbassertiveness, 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

assertive

OTHER WORDS FOR assertive

Origin of assertive

OTHER WORDS FROM assertive

Words related to assertive

How to use assertive in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for assertive

Derived forms of assertive