Aggressive means ready to attack — angry, and pushing at other people. Standing too close and not backing off.
The word describes behaviour and manner, so an aggressive driver and an aggressive tone are both problems. Business uses it approvingly, which surprises learners, since an aggressive strategy or aggressive growth targets are meant as praise. Medicine uses it neutrally, since an aggressive cancer spreads quickly and aggressive treatment is strong. The noun is aggression, and passive-aggressive describes hostility expressed indirectly.
1adjectiveaggressiveBehaving in a hostile, attacking way.
“The dog became aggressive around food.”
2adjectiveforcefulForceful and determined in pursuing an aim.
“They set aggressive sales targets.”
From aggress + -ive. From aggress + ive. Compare with French agressif.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA
Practised in Sharper Adjectives, A Man Called Ove
First appears in chapter 27 of A Man Called Ove.
Practise this word