aggressive

[ uh-gres-iv ]

adjective

1. characterized by or tending toward unprovoked offensives, attacks, invasions, or the like; militantly forward or menacing:

   aggressive acts against a neighboring country.

   Synonyms: militant, pugnacious

   Antonyms: friendly

2. making an all-out effort to win or succeed; competitive:

   an aggressive basketball player.

   Synonyms: assertive, enterprising, forceful

   Antonyms: hesitant, timid, shy, retiring

3. vigorously energetic, especially in the use of initiative and forcefulness:

   an aggressive salesperson.

4. boldly assertive and forward; pushy:

   an aggressive driver.

5. emphasizing maximum growth and capital gains over quality, security, and income:

   an aggressive mutual fund.

6. Medicine/Medical.
   1. (of a disease or tumor) growing or spreading rapidly; highly invasive; difficult or impossible to treat successfully:

      aggressive brain lesions.

   2. pertaining to a risky surgery or treatment, or to a medication that has grave side effects:

      aggressive chemotherapy.

7. (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.

aggressive

/ əˈɡrɛsɪv /

adjective

1. quarrelsome or belligerent

   an aggressive remark

2. assertive; vigorous

   an aggressive business executive

Derived Forms

• agˈgressiveness, noun
• agˈgressively, adverb

Other Words From

• ag·gressive·ly adverb
• ag·gressive·ness ag·gres·siv·i·ty [ag-re-, siv, -i-tee], noun
• anti·ag·gressive adjective
• hyper·ag·gressive adjective
• over·ag·gressive adjective
• over·ag·gressive·ness noun
• super·ag·gressive adjective
• unag·gressive adjective
• unag·gressive·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of aggressive¹

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

Example Sentences

An enzyme called EZH2 has an unexpected role in driving aggressive tumor growth in treatment-resistant prostate cancers, according to a new study by scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine.

From Science Daily

They will also be “as radical or aggressive as you can” in reducing full-time federal employees and contractors, he added.

From Salon

It is particularly striking that the distribution of these subtypes changes with increasing aggressive of tumors.

From Science Daily

She’s angry and deflated at the city’s aggressive move to label homelessness a crime.

From Los Angeles Times

The city doesn’t have cheap or remote land, and Bass does not believe she would need to use more aggressive tactics to get people off the street, she said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bold
• cocky
• dynamic
• energetic
• forceful
• smart
• tough
• vigorous
• zealous