How to Use passive-aggressive in a Sentence

passive-aggressive

adjective
  • The eye-rolls, the silent sighs, the passive-aggressive chats about the younger employees.
    — Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
  • You might be stuck playing 18 holes of passive-aggressive putt-putt.
    — Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
  • These passive-aggressive levers were used to great effect this week in one of the only genuinely thrilling episodes in quite a long time.
    — Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2024
  • Work emails can be the most fraught, with 91% saying that their co-workers are sometimes passive-aggressive over email.
    — Chandra Steele, PCMAG, 20 Apr. 2023
  • Upside Down Face = Same as above, but even more passive-aggressive.
    — Jennifer Jolly, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2023
  • That's two passive-aggressive glances from the mom behind you wrangling a toddler and a bag of Goldfish crackers.
    — Jesse Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Apr. 2025
  • And at just $15, no more passive-aggressive comments from your travel partner about putting your shoes back on.
    — Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 12 Apr. 2025
  • Nearly 30, she’s been beaten down by a passive-aggressive mother and a cringing cousin all her life.
    — Sarah Schutte, National Review, 12 Mar. 2023
  • Is this the same woman who has a problem with Priscila but won’t say it to her face and also asks everyone a passive-aggressive question?
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2024
  • The passive-aggressive Rodgers took several shots at former head coach Mike McCarthy throughout the years.
    — Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
  • In addition to being the most popular app in China, WeChat may also be the most passive-aggressive.
    — Peter Hessler, The New Yorker, 26 June 2023
  • The Redditor notes that the friend became a bit passive-aggressive in their correspondence.
    — Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 25 May 2025
  • All this passive-aggressive, hard smile and veneer and everything.
    — Michael Ordoña, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2023
  • That old high school pal who always makes passive-aggressive comments about your outfit choices?
    — Korin Miller, Women's Health, 20 June 2023
  • Sometimes, the stress is unavoidable: Your three-year-old niece might scream for two hours straight or your sister-in-law might say something passive-aggressive about your parenting style.
    — Julia Ries, SELF, 10 June 2024
  • Ooh, there’s very little that burns my biscuits more than a passive-aggressive social media comment.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 13 May 2025
  • Now, the atmosphere at home is tense, with Chloe barely speaking and making passive-aggressive comments.
    — Ashley Vega, People.com, 23 June 2025
  • Yes, Albrecht Escher absconded with Lasher and left Sip holding the bag, with nothing but a passive-aggressive voice note on a bottle of brown liquor by way of good-bye.
    — Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 26 Jan. 2025
  • So last October, on the heels of Michigan’s sign-stealing scandal, out came that gray screen, held in front of Riley like a beacon of passive-aggressive football paranoia.
    — Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2024
  • But for most people, the worst consequence is a passive-aggressive reminder to follow all crew instructions.
    — Boutayna Chokrane, Wired News, 12 Apr. 2025
  • What followed was a season of passive-aggressive moments, sharp glances, selective invites, and pointed critiques that seemed to prove her very point.
    — Shelby Stewart, Essence, 8 Apr. 2025
  • This might look like sending a passive-aggressive email or doing something small to block someone’s goals, like regurgitating a peer’s idea as your own.
    — Jade Thomas, CNBC, 29 July 2024
  • His folks often behave in a passive-aggressive manner toward me.
    — Amy Dickinson, The Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2024
  • The majority of passive-aggressive work emails came to employees from their own co-workers, according to a new poll from Mailsuite.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2024
  • My new thing is teaching people my technique for building wealth through passive-aggressive income.
    — Riane Konc, The New Yorker, 29 July 2024
  • Some are active and vocal in their disagreement; others take a more passive-aggressive approach.
    — Peter Follows, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
  • If someone sends critical feedback followed by a smiley face, Gen Z might read it as passive-aggressive rather than thoughtful.
    — Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025
  • Celia Weston, as Margot’s passive-aggressive Southern Belle mother, makes hay with the more serious moments near the end.
    — Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2025
  • And while some players might have publicly responded to Plum's remarks with a passive-aggressive social media message, Clark instead chose to engage in a friendly game of trolling.
    — Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 July 2025
  • That passive-aggressive email ruined your mood, but the feedback about your project was pretty accurate.
    — Jenna Ryu, SELF, 25 Mar. 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'passive-aggressive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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