1
as in ambitious
having or showing a bold forcefulness in the pursuit of a goal
if you don't take a more aggressive approach to this yard pretty soon, the weeds are going to take over completely
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in militant
feeling or displaying eagerness to fight
a kindergarten teacher who discourages aggressive behavior, like pushing, by rewarding those children who wait their turn
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in violent
marked by or uttered with forcefulness
the team's game strategy depends on a very aggressive style of defense
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Try This Instead
Try This InsteadFor
Try This
aggressive behavior
an aggressive approach
an aggressive treatment
an intense treatment
a vigorous treatment
an accelerated treatment
a rigorous treatment
an extreme treatment
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of aggressive
With an acute focus on fighting back against Donald Trump‘s aggressive deportation raids, the movement coincides with the president’s controversial military parade in Washington meant to celebrate the Army’s 250th anniversary.
—
Jack Dunn, Variety, 14 June 2025
The direct heat from the iron’s metal plate can be too aggressive on delicates but necessary for more structured or heavy-duty materials.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 June 2025
Most recently the administration asked the Supreme Court to clear the way for downsizing the federal workforce despite multiple court rulings that congressional approval is needed to make such aggressive reductions.
—Ragan Whitlock, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2025
Addressing the Obvious Critiques Yes, 3–4% real growth is aggressive.
—Don Muir, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for aggressive
Jack Dunn, Variety, 14 June 2025
The direct heat from the iron’s metal plate can be too aggressive on delicates but necessary for more structured or heavy-duty materials.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 June 2025
Most recently the administration asked the Supreme Court to clear the way for downsizing the federal workforce despite multiple court rulings that congressional approval is needed to make such aggressive reductions.
—Ragan Whitlock, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2025
Addressing the Obvious Critiques Yes, 3–4% real growth is aggressive.
—Don Muir, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for aggressive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aggressive
Adjective
-
The Counterfeit Opera arrives as part of Little Island’s commendably ambitious second season of summer programming.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
13 June 2025
-
The $8 billion asking price, related by people close to the process, struck a few bidders as ambitious.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
12 June 2025
Adjective
-
The aid group accused Hamas of carrying out the assault; the militant group has not yet responded to the allegations.—
Jade Walker,
CNN Money,
12 June 2025
-
Some activists have been criticized for spreading messages seen as antisemitic or outright supportive of militant groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 June 2025
Adjective
-
The protests had been largely peaceful throughout Friday and Saturday, with isolated instances of violent activity.—
Michael Wilner,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
-
Noni finds herself up against Lion’s violent henchmen and women in series of fight-to-the-death encounters aboard the tyrant’s grandiose sailing ship, which lies at the heart of a vast naval fleet.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
9 June 2025
Adjective
-
Sanders’s Senate counterpart, Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT), is a fierce Trump critic.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
13 June 2025
-
Meta’s big bet on Wang fits into CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s plans to bolster his company’s AI efforts amid fierce competition from OpenAI and Google-parent Alphabet.—
Jonathan Vanian,
CNBC,
13 June 2025
Adjective
-
The crowd was right on top of you there, the students rimmed the court, the very definition of a hostile environment.—
Jim Calhoun with Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
8 June 2025
-
That’s coupled with a more hostile political environment for diversity-forward businesses.—
Phoebe Liu,
Forbes.com,
8 June 2025
Adjective
-
That piece, and the book that would follow, has become a staple of environmental humanities classes for decades and still stirs vigorous classroom debate today.—
Daegan Miller
June 5,
Literary Hub,
5 June 2025
-
Media reports that Saudi Arabia will lift its decades-old ban on alcohol in select tourist zones have prompted the flare-up of a vigorous online debate in the conservative kingdom, with some voices in support and others in strong opposition.—
Amira El-Fekki,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 May 2025
Adjective
-
Lehrer and Louis are a natural double act, Louis’s assertive bluntness contrasting nicely with Lehrer’s dead-air calm.—
Eric Lach,
New Yorker,
8 June 2025
-
Speaking in Singapore on Saturday, Hegseth said Washington will strengthen its overseas defenses in response to what the Pentagon views as rapidly escalating threats, particularly due to an increasingly assertive posture toward Taiwan.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 June 2025
Adjective
-
The contentious professional relationship between billionaire Elon Musk and President Donald Trump has seemingly come to an end.—
Maria Gracia Santillana Linares,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
-
Everything's an 'emergency': How Trump's executive order record pace is testing the courts Lawmakers often shy away from piling too much into one bill because each contentious provision spurs its own opposition.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
8 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Aggressive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggressive. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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