Definition
In a forceful, assertive, or hostile manner; with determination and energy that may be confrontational. Can describe behavior that is either positively assertive or negatively combative.
Etymology
From Latin aggressus, past participle of aggredi meaning 'to approach, attack, or undertake,' from ad- (toward) and gradi (to step, go). The English adjective 'aggressive' emerged in the 17th century, with the adverb form following standard English word formation patterns.
Kelly Says
The word 'aggressive' has undergone semantic broadening - while originally meaning hostile or attacking, it's now commonly used in positive contexts like 'aggressive marketing' or 'aggressive treatment,' where it simply means 'intensive' or 'determined.' This shift reflects changing attitudes toward assertiveness in business and personal contexts.
Translations
ARالعربية
بتهيج
bi-tah-yij
BNবাংলা
আক্রমণাত্মকভাবে
aakramonatmokbhaabe
CACatalà
agressivament
ah-greh-see-vah-mehnt
CSČeština
agresivně
ah-greh-SEE-vneh
DADansk
aggressivt
ah-greh-SEE-vt
DEDeutsch
aggressiv
ah-greh-SEE-v
ELΕλληνικά
επιθετικά
eh-pee-theh-TEE-kah
ESEspañol
agresivamente
ah-greh-see-vah-mehn-teh
FISuomi
aggressiivisesti
ah-greh-SEE-vee-seh-stee
FRFrançais
agressivement
ah-greh-see-vah-mohn
GUGU
આક્રમકતાથી
aakramaktaa-thee
HAHA
ta hanyar
tah hah-nyar
HEעברית
בתוקפנות
beh-toh-kfah-noht
HIहिन्दी
आक्रामक रूप से
aakramak roop se
HUMagyar
agresszívan
ah-greh-SEE-vahn
IDBahasa Indonesia
agresif
ah-greh-SEE-f
ITItaliano
aggressivamente
ah-greh-see-vah-mehn-teh
JA日本語
攻撃的に
kōgeki-teki ni
KKKK
агрессивті
ah-greh-SEE-vtee
KMKM
ដោយការវាយប្រហារ
doy kaar vey prahaar
KO한국어
공격적으로
gong-gyeok-jeok-eo
MRMR
आक्रमकपणे
aakramakpane
MSBahasa Melayu
agresif
ah-greh-SEE-f
MYမြန်မာ
တိုက်ခိုက်ရန်
tite khaik ran
NLNederlands
agressief
ah-greh-SEE-f
NONorsk
aggressivt
ah-greh-SEE-vt
PAPA
ਹਮਲਾਵਰ ਤਰੀਕੇ ਨਾਲ
hamlaavara tareeke naal
PLPolski
agresywnie
ah-greh-SEEN-yeh
PTPortuguês
agressivamente
ah-greh-see-vah-mehn-teh
RORomână
agresiv
ah-greh-SEE-v
RUРусский
агрессивно
ah-greh-SEE-vnah
SVSvenska
aggressivt
ah-greh-SEE-vt
SWKiswahili
kwa ukali
koo ah-kah-lee
TAதமிழ்
தாக்குதலாக
thaakkuthalaa
THไทย
ด้วยความก้าวร้าว
duai kwam kao raow
TLTL
nang-aagaw
nahng ah-gah-ow
TRTürkçe
saldırganca
sahl-dee-rahhn-jah
UKУкраїнська
агресивно
ah-greh-SEE-vnah
URاردو
حملہ آورانہ طور پر
hamla aavaraana taur par
VITiếng Việt
hung hăng
hoong hahng
ZH中文
咄咄逼人地
duō duō bī rén de
ZUZU
ngokuthintwa
n-goh-koo-theen-twa
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Double-standard in professional contexts: aggressive men labeled 'assertive' or 'ambitious'; aggressive women labeled 'bossy' or 'hostile.' Aggression itself carries gendered moral valence.
Inclusive Usage
Replace with context-specific terms: 'assertively', 'rapidly', 'competitively', 'forcefully' depending on tone intended. Avoid it as gendered criticism.
Inclusive Alternatives
["assertively","forcefully","rapidly","competitively"]