Definition

Characterized by or showing an inclination to attack or confront; ready to attack

Pronunciation

US English

UK English

Part of speech

Adjective

Synonyms

confrontational, attacking, bellicose, militant, hostile, combative

Antonyms

passive, submissive, non-violent, peaceful, docile, meek

Example sentences

  • The dog was known to be aggressive, and had bitten several people.
  • He took an aggressive approach to solving the problem, pushing for immediate action.
  • The salesperson adopted an aggressive style, pushing the product on the customer.

Usage

Aggressive is used to describe someone or something that is inclined to attack or confront others, or is ready to start a fight. It is often used to describe a person’s behavior, such as their manner of speaking or their approach to a task, and can also be used to describe the behavior of animals, such as dogs. Aggressive behavior can be seen as either positive or negative, depending on the context and the outcome of the confrontation. In some cases, it may be necessary to be aggressive in order to achieve a goal or to defend oneself, while in other cases it may be seen as hostile and inappropriate