aggressively

American  

[uh-gres-iv-lee] / əˈgrɛs ɪv li /

adverb

1. in an aggressive, militant, or menacing manner.

   The orders were to root out the entrenched rebels, swiftly and aggressively.

2. in a highly competitive manner; with an aggressive effort to win.

   The series was aggressively played by both teams.

3. in a vigorously or forcefully enterprising manner; ambitiously.

   an aggressively marketed line of cosmetics.

4. in a pushy or boldly assertive manner.

   They continue to lobby aggressively for a safer workplace.

5. Medicine/Medical.

   1. (of a disease’s or tumor’s viability) in a rapid and vigorous, highly invasive manner.

      The cancer has aggressively branched out to his lower intestine.

   2. in a highly potent, therapeutic, but risky manner, intended to destroy malignancy.

      Can the treatment aggressively target the tumor without harming healthy tissue?

6. (of a plant’s growth habit) with an undesirable tendency to spread rapidly, especially where unwanted.

   Wild lotuses have aggressively flourished in both ponds, much to the dismay of local canoeists.

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Other Word Forms

• nonaggressively adverb
• overaggressively adverb
• unaggressively adverb

Etymology

Origin of aggressively

First recorded in 1790–95; aggressive ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )

Explanation

When you do something aggressively, you act in a forceful and often hostile way. Aggressively tackling someone in football is generally fine, but aggressively shoving to the front of a line is not. The adverb aggressively means "with aggression" or "in a combative or threatening way." Think of military troops moving aggressively into enemy territory. You can also use this word in a slightly gentler way to describe something done forcefully or assertively: "They're marketing their cupcakes so aggressively — I see those ads everywhere I go!"

Example Sentences

Lee said instead of buying the dip, like hedge funds, retail investors were raising cash, selling aggressively.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 16, 2026

Netflix has moved aggressively into the podcast business.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

Costly mistakes such as raising prices too aggressively in recent years have damaged demand for designer goods.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

In nullifying Madrid's build-up, Diaz's ability to jump aggressively to press Trent Alexander-Arnold stood out.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

He lowered his chin aggressively and made a little sound, a bark of disapproval, deep in his throat.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides