Aggressive

/əˈɡrɛsɪv/

adjectiveIntermediate🔥Very CommonBehavior
2 meanings1 idiom/phrase2 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

Having or showing a readiness or eagerness to attack or confront; characterized by forceful action or behavior.

/əˈɡrɛsɪv/

adjectivenegativeIntermediate
Behavior

Ready or likely to attack or confront; characterized by or resulting from aggression.

His aggressive behavior got him into trouble.

💡 Simply: Ready to fight or be forceful.

More Examples

2

The company took an aggressive stance in negotiations.

How It's Used

Sports

"The team played with an aggressive style."

Business

"He adopted an aggressive marketing strategy."

2

Hostile or violent behavior or attitudes toward another; readiness to attack or confront.

/əˈɡrɛsɪv/

nounnegativeIntermediate
Behavior

Aggressive behavior.

The incident sparked an outbreak of aggression.

💡 Simply: Attacking or being hostile behavior.

More Examples

2

His aggression was a symptom of his underlying anger.

How It's Used

Psychology

"The study examined the causes of aggression in young children."

Tip:Think 'attack' – aggression involves attacking or being hostile.

Idioms & expressions

Aggressive marketing

A marketing strategy that is forceful and aims to quickly gain market share.

"Their aggressive marketing campaign quickly made them a household name."

From Latin *aggressus*, past participle of *aggredi* "to approach, attack", from *ad-* "to" + *gradi* "to step, go".

The word has held a consistently negative connotation, associated with hostility and attack, throughout its usage history.

Memory tip

Think 'attack' - aggressive people are ready to attack.

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"to step towards, to attack"

Base: aggress
aggressive behavioraggressive marketingaggressive growth

Common misspellings

aggresiveagreasiveagressive

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written