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aggression
/əˈɡrɛʃ.ən/
hostile or violent behavior
The dog showed aggression when strangers approached.
The dog acted threateningly when people it didn't know came near.
formal
Hostile or violent behavior or attitudes toward others.
The psychologist studied the link between childhood trauma and adult aggression.
The psychologist examined how early negative experiences might lead to violent behavior in adults.
Military aggression often leads to prolonged conflict.
Nations initiating hostile military actions frequently cause long-term wars.
In psychology, aggression can be physical, verbal, or relational (e.g., social exclusion).
Business
formal
Determined and forceful pursuit of a goal.
The company's aggression in marketing drove rapid market share growth.
The company's relentless marketing strategy quickly increased its dominance in the market.
Used in business contexts to describe proactive, assertive strategies.
Collocations
physical aggressionviolent actions causing harmverbal aggressionhostile speech or insultsaggression toward someonehostile actions directed at a specific person
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Avoid overgeneralizing
Not all assertive behavior is 'aggression.' In leadership, 'assertiveness' is positive, while 'aggression' implies harmful intent. Context matters.
Gold Rule
Aggression vs. Assertiveness
Assertiveness is expressing needs confidently without harm; aggression involves harm or coercion. Example: 'She asserted her opinion' (positive) vs. 'He aggressively shouted at her' (negative).
Word Origin
From Latin *aggressio(n-)*, meaning 'attack' or 'assault', derived from *aggredi* ('to approach, attack'), combining *ad-* ('to, toward') + *gradi* ('to step'). Entered English in the 17th century via French *agression*.
Usage Notes
Aggression is often context-dependent; in animals or sports, it can be natural and non-harmful (e.g., competitive drive), while in social contexts, it typically implies harmful intent. Avoid using the word to describe assertiveness in professional settings unless the tone is clearly negative.
Word Breakdown
aggress-
to approach or attack
root-ion
act or state of
suffixEnglish Dictionary