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

Related Words

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