aggressor

Definition of aggressornext
as in invader
one that starts armed conflict against another especially without reasonable cause a group of smaller states had formed an alliance to deter potential aggressors

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of aggressor Its task was to intercept and engage a human-piloted aggressor aircraft. Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 27 Jan. 2026 Unlike radar, this allowed the drone to detect and track the heat signature of the aggressor without revealing its position as would be the case with radar. New Atlas, 26 Jan. 2026 The nation’s rival then wasn’t China or Russia but Germany, the aggressor in World War I. Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 24 Jan. 2026 It’s filled to bursting with antioxidants, which create a forcefield around the skin, protecting it from environmental aggressors like pollution and UV, which can dull, clog, and age skin. Jacqueline Kilikita, Refinery29, 22 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for aggressor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aggressor
Noun
  • During the two-day cold snap, Florida waived its law requiring permits to transport iguanas, allowing residents to nab the pesky invaders and bring them to the state's wildlife officers to be euthanized.
    Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 10 Feb. 2026
  • For the Chinese Communist Party, which stakes its claim to legitimacy on defeating Japanese invaders during World War II, that would be an unforgivable outrage.
    Andy Browne, semafor.com, 9 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The Taopiaopiao release centers on an underperforming local police unit that fabricates minor cases to pad its record, only to uncover a genuine criminal conspiracy after a burst water main exposes a gang of tomb raiders posing as repair workers.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Vestar was born in 1988 during private equity’s first boom, the same year a brash NYC firm known as Kohlberg Kravis & Roberts took down mighty RJR Nabisco for $25 billion ($70 billion in today’s terms), back when deals were called LBOs and dealmakers were known as corporate raiders.
    Hank Tucker, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The group is known for phishing and vishing attacks, where attackers impersonate IT or support staff to trick employees into handing over access.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 10 Feb. 2026
  • The attacker sped away in a red Nissan Altima, but that was the only clue investigators had for several years.
    Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 10 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Aggressor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggressor. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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