1
as in aggressiveness
an inclination to fight or quarrel
though the dogs have a reputation for aggression, many of their owners insist they make gentle pets
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in attack
the act or action of setting upon with force or violence
diplomats warned that any aggression by either side could easily turn into a full-scale war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of aggression
There were 290 acts of aggression against journalists in Ecuador last year, including four murders, attributed to criminal gangs.
—
Arkansas Online, 12 Mar. 2026
Oil prices have surged since February 28, when the US and Israel opened aggressions by assassinating Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei in a series of missile strikes that also killed the commander of the IRGC, the minister of defense, and other top brass.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 12 Mar. 2026
There were 290 acts of aggression against journalists in Ecuador last year, including four homicides, committed allegedly by criminal gangs.
—Astrid Suárez, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Chelsea’s players were completely unafraid to venture into unfamiliar areas of the pitch to make sure PSG generated no easy advantages with their movement, and their combination of aggression and flexibility flummoxed Luis Enrique’s team.
—Liam Twomey, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for aggression
Arkansas Online, 12 Mar. 2026
Oil prices have surged since February 28, when the US and Israel opened aggressions by assassinating Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei in a series of missile strikes that also killed the commander of the IRGC, the minister of defense, and other top brass.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 12 Mar. 2026
There were 290 acts of aggression against journalists in Ecuador last year, including four homicides, committed allegedly by criminal gangs.
—Astrid Suárez, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Chelsea’s players were completely unafraid to venture into unfamiliar areas of the pitch to make sure PSG generated no easy advantages with their movement, and their combination of aggression and flexibility flummoxed Luis Enrique’s team.
—Liam Twomey, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for aggression
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aggression
Noun
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Collins said the coaching staff looked at first-half film and thought the Wildcats’ hand activity and aggressiveness on defense were off.—
Colleen Kane,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
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The rest of the game passed by without any noticeable uptick in aggressiveness from the Leafs.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
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According to Fairbanks, who moved to South Africa from the United States more than fifteen years ago, attacks on farms appear to be mostly economically motivated crimes.—
Boyce Upholt,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
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The attack illustrated the care news outlets must take in reporting during wartime, and the responsibilities of American journalists to report the perspective of countries its government views as enemies.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
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So far, however, there is no sign of hostilities easing.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
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Aluminum hit the highest in almost four years before erasing gains, as escalating hostilities in the Middle East worsened the supply outlook from the region, while copper and other industrial metals fell on falling risk appetite.—
Bloomberg News,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The assault took place both and off campus and during and after school hours, according to the news release.—
Jessica Seaman,
Denver Post,
10 Mar. 2026
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Jalloh’s lengthy criminal history includes more than 30 arrests for charges of rape, assault, drug possession, property destruction, identity theft, trespassing, firing a weapon, grand larceny, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and pickpocketing.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The lower-polling Democrats reacted with defiance; all but one filed paperwork to officially declare their candidacy.—
Ben Paviour,
Sacbee.com,
10 Mar. 2026
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There would be no defiance of the odds by the Ducks on Sunday, when their third period came and went without a goal, just as the first two had.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Lebanon has been pulled deep into the war in the Middle East since Hezbollah opened fire to avenge the killing of Iran's supreme leader, igniting an Israeli offensive which has killed nearly 500 people in Lebanon, according to Lebanese authorities − with the death toll rising by around 100 a day.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
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Israel, meanwhile, appears content to keep battering the Islamic Republic, whatever the downstream consequences, while also mustering a new offensive into southern Lebanon against Hezbollah.—
Ishaan Tharoor,
New Yorker,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But in this fight, the Americans are the only ones who use Tomahawks, and the evidence is pointing toward that specific missile.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
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In one episode, the crew of the Red Dwarf visits an Earth on which time moves backwards, culminating in a slapstick reverse Wild West-style bar fight that sees teeth reappear in mouths, windows reassemble, and chairs unbreak over heads.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Nearly all the attention on the Dominican Republic so far in the World Baseball Classic understandably has been on its offense — a prolific collection of some of Major League Baseball’s top hitters that has mashed its way to utter dominance in the tournament.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
14 Mar. 2026
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Hiring Mike McDaniel was a strong step forward for the offense to run like a Ferrari.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Aggression.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggression. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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