aggressive
adjective
ag·gres·sive ə-ˈgre-siv 
1
a
: tending toward or exhibiting aggression
aggressive behavior
b
: marked by combative readiness
an aggressive fighter
2
a
: marked by obtrusive energy and self-assertiveness
a rude, aggressive personality
b
: marked by driving forceful energy or initiative : enterprising
an aggressive salesman
3
: strong or emphatic in effect or intent
aggressive colors
aggressive flavors
4
: growing, developing, or spreading rapidly
aggressive bone tumors
5
: more severe, intensive, or comprehensive than usual especially in dosage or extent
aggressive chemotherapy
aggressively adverb
aggressiveness noun
aggressivity
ˌa-ˌgre-ˈsi-və-tē
noun 
Synonyms
- ambitious
- assertive
- enterprising
- fierce
- go-getting
- high-pressure
- in-your-face
- militant
- pushy
- self-asserting
- self-assertive
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
He started to get aggressive and began to shout. an aggressive lawyer whose tactics have made people angry The team plays a very aggressive style of defense. The company took aggressive steps to prevent illegal use of their equipment. The publisher has been very aggressive in promoting the book. The city began an aggressive campaign to encourage recycling. an aggressive form of cancer See More
Recent Examples on the Web Google has one of Big Tech’s most aggressive sustainability plans. 
Eamon Barrett, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2022 In recent years, the most aggressive state-level initiatives have been crafted by conservative statehouses, often in ways that conflict with popular sentiment. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2022 The legislation is among the nation’s most aggressive, banning new fossil fuel power plants and requiring existing generators to begin cleaning up their electricity almost immediately. oregonlive, 6 Sep. 2022 Glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive types of brain cancer known to man. Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 5 Sep. 2022 But the Commission's draft regulation would go beyond even the most aggressive aims of the US right-to-repair movement. Kevin Purdy, Ars Technica, 2 Sep. 2022 Her probe has grown to become the most aggressive state-level investigation into efforts by Mr. Trump and his allies to reverse the November 2020 results. Jan Wolfe, WSJ, 1 Sep. 2022 Historically, ultralow-fare airlines have been the most aggressive with luggage fees. Christopher Elliott, Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2022 Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, a Republican facing a re-election challenge from Democrat Stacey Abrams, has been among the most aggressive tax-cutters. CBS News, 31 Aug. 2022 See More
Eamon Barrett, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2022 In recent years, the most aggressive state-level initiatives have been crafted by conservative statehouses, often in ways that conflict with popular sentiment. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2022 The legislation is among the nation’s most aggressive, banning new fossil fuel power plants and requiring existing generators to begin cleaning up their electricity almost immediately. oregonlive, 6 Sep. 2022 Glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive types of brain cancer known to man. Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 5 Sep. 2022 But the Commission's draft regulation would go beyond even the most aggressive aims of the US right-to-repair movement. Kevin Purdy, Ars Technica, 2 Sep. 2022 Her probe has grown to become the most aggressive state-level investigation into efforts by Mr. Trump and his allies to reverse the November 2020 results. Jan Wolfe, WSJ, 1 Sep. 2022 Historically, ultralow-fare airlines have been the most aggressive with luggage fees. Christopher Elliott, Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2022 Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, a Republican facing a re-election challenge from Democrat Stacey Abrams, has been among the most aggressive tax-cutters. CBS News, 31 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
borrowed from New Latin aggressīvus, from Latin aggressus, past participle of aggredī "to step up to, approach, attack" + -īvus -ive — more at aggress
First Known Use
1716, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing aggressive
Kids Definition
aggressive
adjective
ag·gres·sive ə-ˈgre-siv
1
: showing a readiness to fight or argue
an aggressive dog
aggressive behavior
2
: engaging in hostile action without reasonable cause
an aggressive nation
3
: being forceful in getting things done
an overly aggressive salesperson
Medical Definition
aggressive
adjective
ag·gres·sive ə-ˈgres-iv
1
: tending toward or exhibiting aggression
aggressive behavior
2
: growing, developing, or spreading rapidly
aggressive bone tumors
3
: more severe, intensive, or comprehensive than usual especially in dosage or extent
aggressive chemotherapy
aggressive surgical intervention
compare conservative aggressiveness
noun
1
as in ambition
readiness to engage in daring or difficult activity because of the mayor's aggressiveness in tackling problems, there have been significant changes for the better Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- ambition
- initiative
- action
- vigor
- drive
- enterprise
- hustle
- spirit
- assertiveness
- grit
- ambitiousness
- energy
- go
- spunk
- gumption
- starch
- pluck
- killer instinct
- vitality
- pep
- self-reliance
- overambitiousness
- hardihood
- snap
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- passivity
- inertia
- timidity
- diffidence
- reluctance
- inactivity
- hesitation
- faintheartedness
- lethargy
- laziness
- indolence
2
as in intensity
the quality or state of being forceful (as in expression) has the aggressiveness one needs to pursue a career in show business Synonyms & Similar Words
- intensity
- intenseness
- assertiveness
- violence
- emphasis
- forcefulness
- vigorousness
- vehemence
- fierceness
- strength
- warmth
- power
- potency
- insistence
- fervor
- eloquence
- directness
- stridency
- fervency
- incisiveness
- ardor
- straightforwardness
- vociferousness
- ardency
- passion
- vividness
- clearness
- plainness
- absoluteness
- fervidness
- incision
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- weakness
- ambiguity
- mildness
- subtlety
- feebleness
- delicacy
- lightness
- equivocation
3
as in aggression
an inclination to fight or quarrel male bettas, known for their aggressiveness, are best raised alone Synonyms & Similar Words
- aggression
- hostility
- defiance
- pugnacity
- combativeness
- belligerence
- bellicosity
- assaultiveness
- feistiness
- fight
- militance
- militancy
- truculence
- contentiousness
- scrappiness
- belligerency
- irritability
- disputatiousness
- quarrelsomeness
- fierceness
- antagonism
- unfriendliness
- militantness
- irritableness
- militarism
- imperialism
- chip on one's shoulder
- rudeness
- irascibility
- hyperaggressiveness
- jingoism
- orneriness
- disagreeableness
- peevishness
- testiness
- petulance
- surliness
- fractiousness
- crankiness
- crossness
- grouchiness
- acidity
- querulousness
- fretfulness
- grumpiness
- pettishness
- huffiness
- waspishness
- captiousness
- biliousness
- irascibleness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- friendliness
- sociability
- gentleness
- pacifism
- nonaggression
- geniality
- amiability
- affability
- amicability
- benevolence
- graciousness
- mildness
- antimilitarism
- pleasantness
- cordiality
- kindliness
- antiaggression
- anti-imperialism
- amenability
- complaisance
- placability
- red-necked grebe
- red-necked nightjar
- red-necked phalarope
- red-pencil
- red-penciled
- red-penciling
- red-pencils
- red-roan
- red-seeded dandelion
- red-shaft
- red-shafted
- red-shafted flicker
- red-short
- red-shortness
- red-shoul
- red-shouldered hawk
- red-sided dace
- red-spotted purple
- red-stalk aster
- red-stem filaree
- red-stemmed filaree
- red-streaked spider
- red-tailed hawk
- red-tailed tropic bird
- red-tapeism