bellicose combative pugnacious scrappy truculent
(gcide) | Aggressive \Ag*gres"sive\, a. [Cf. F. agressif.]
1. Tending or disposed to aggress; having or showing
determination and energetic pursuit of one's own ends at
the expense of others or mindless of others' needs or
desires; characterized by aggression; making assaults;
unjustly attacking; as, an aggressive policy, war, person,
nation; an aggressive businessman; an aggressive
basketball player; he was aggressive and imperious in his
convictions; aggressive drivers. Opposite of
unaggressive.
[1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5]
No aggressive movement was made. --Macaulay.
[1913 Webster]
2. Marked by self-confident ambition, vigorous
competitiveness, energy and initiative; as, an aggressive
young executive.
Syn: enterprising, pushful, pushing, pushy
[WordNet 1.5]
3. (Med., Biol.) Tending to grow or spread quickly; as, an
aggressive tumor. [Narrower terms: {invasive (vs.
noninvasive) ] --AS
Syn: fast-growing(prenominal)
[WordNet 1.5]
4. Tending to initiate unprovoked attacks; initiating
unprovoked military action; eager to fight; as, aggressive
acts against another country.
Syn: belligerent.
[WordNet 1.5]
Note: Narrower related terms: {bellicose, combative,
pugnacious, scrappy, truculent ; {hard-hitting,
high-pressure ; hostile (used of attempts to buy or
take control of a business: "hostile takeover";
"hostile tender offer"); {predatory, rapacious,
raptorial, ravening, vulturine, vulturous . See also:
assertive, hostile, offensive.
[WordNet 1.5] -- Ag*gres"sive*ly, adv. --
Ag*gres"sive*ness, n.
[1913 Webster] |