aggression

[ uh-gresh-uhn ]

noun

1. the action of a state in violating by force the rights of another state, particularly its territorial rights; an unprovoked offensive, attack, invasion, or the like:

   The army is prepared to stop any foreign aggression.

   Antonyms: peacefulness

2. any offensive action, attack, or procedure; an inroad or encroachment:

   an aggression upon one's rights.

3. the practice of making assaults or attacks; offensive action in general.
4. Psychiatry. overt or suppressed hostility, either innate or resulting from continued frustration and directed outward or against oneself.

aggression

/ əˈɡrɛsə; əˈɡrɛʃən /

noun

1. an attack or harmful action, esp an unprovoked attack by one country against another
2. any offensive activity, practice, etc

   an aggression against personal liberty

3. psychol a hostile or destructive mental attitude or behaviour

aggression

/ ə-grĕsh′ən /

1. Behavior that is meant to intimidate or injure an animal of the same species or of a competing species but is not predatory. Aggression may be displayed during mating rituals or to defend territory, as by the erection of fins by fish and feathers by birds.

Derived Forms

• aggressor, noun

Other Words From

• anti·ag·gression adjective
• counter·ag·gression noun
• preag·gression noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of aggression¹

1605–15; < Latin aggressiōn- (stem of aggressiō ), equivalent to aggress ( us ) ( aggress ) + -iōn- -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of aggression¹

C17: from Latin aggression-, from aggrēdi to attack

Example Sentences

That burgeoning alliance was on full display in June when Putin visited North Korea and signed an agreement with Kim to protect each other's nations from "aggression".

From BBC

While that incident appears to have been the final straw for MSF in Port-au-Prince, at least for the time being, it was not the only recent example of extreme aggression against their staff.

From BBC

Any aggression against Russia by a state which is a member of a coalition would be seen by Moscow as aggression from the whole group.

From BBC

Ukraine has said it will never give in to Russia's aggression as it marks 1,000 days since the Kremlin launched a full-scale invasion of the country.

From BBC

The epidermis, the top layer of the skin, protects the body from external aggression.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• assault
• encroachment
• invasion
• offensive
• onslaught
• raid