View synonyms for aggressive

aggressive

[ uh-gres-iv ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

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
making an all-out effort to win or succeed; competitive:
an aggressive basketball player.
Synonyms: assertive, enterprising, forceful
Antonyms: hesitant, timid, shy, retiring
vigorously energetic, especially in the use of initiative and forcefulness:
an aggressive salesperson.
boldly assertive and forward; pushy:
an aggressive driver.
emphasizing maximum growth and capital gains over quality, security, and income:
an aggressive mutual fund.
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.
(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

quarrelsome or belligerent
an aggressive remark
assertive; vigorous
an aggressive business executive

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Derived Forms

agˈgressiveness, noun
agˈgressively, adverb

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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

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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”

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