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

The 46-year-old, who has been working for Mr Singh Gold's shop for seven years, said the thieves were "very aggressive".

From BBC

These are the stories that may give Republicans pause about a potential backlash if they consider aggressive new federal limits on abortion.

From Slate

Laura Hudson was 36 weeks pregnant with her first child when she found out she had an aggressive form of breast cancer.

From BBC

The Florida lawmaker has been one of the president-elect's most aggressive and relentless defenders - at congressional hearings, in press conferences and during television appearances.

From BBC

The debate around prostate screening revolves around an imperfect test and the trade-off between finding some men’s aggressive cancers earlier and the harms of diagnosing and treating slow-growing tumours that would never have affected a man’s health or lifespan.

From BBC

Related Words

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