aggression
- Noun:
- Deliberately unfriendly behavior: Hostile or violent actions or attitudes intended to cause harm, confrontation, or dominance.
- The act of initiating hostilities: The first act of attack or armed conflict, especially in a war.
- Violent action that is hostile and usually unprovoked: Forceful physical or verbal behavior that is antagonistic and often without justification.
- A feeling of hostility that arouses thoughts of attack: An internal emotional state characterized by anger or antagonism that motivates aggressive behavior.
- A disposition to behave aggressively: A personality trait or tendency to be readily confrontational or violent.
- Noun:
- His constant aggression towards his classmates made the teacher intervene. (His deliberately unfriendly behavior...)
- The invasion was an act of unprovoked aggression. (The act of initiating hostilities...)
- The player was penalized for his aggression on the field. (Violent action that is hostile...)
- She felt a surge of aggression after being insulted. (A feeling of hostility...)
- The dog's aggression is a problem for its owners. (A disposition to behave aggressively.)
"Micro-aggression": A term for a comment or action that subtly and often unconsciously expresses a prejudiced attitude toward a member of a marginalized group.
- He attended a workshop on recognizing and avoiding micro-aggressions in the workplace.
"Passive aggression": Indirect expression of hostility through actions like procrastination, stubbornness, or deliberate failure.
- Not completing the shared task was an act of passive aggression.
Aggressive (adj): Behaving in a hostile, forceful, or attacking manner; or, in a positive business/medical context, pursuing goals vigorously.
- He has an aggressive management style. / The doctors started an aggressive treatment.
Aggressor (n): A person or country that attacks first or initiates hostile action.
- The treaty identified the invading nation as the aggressor.
- Hostility: Unfriendly or antagonistic behavior.
- Belligerence: Aggressive or warlike behavior.
- Assault: A violent physical or verbal attack.
- Peacefulness: The state of being calm and non-violent.
- Friendliness: Kind and pleasant behavior.
- Passivity: Acceptance of what happens without active response or resistance.
To commit an act of aggression: To carry out a hostile or attacking action.
- The court sought to determine which side committed the first act of aggression.
Instrument of aggression: A tool or means used for hostile purposes.
- The propaganda was used as an instrument of aggression.
A show of aggression: A display of hostile or threatening behavior intended to intimidate.
- The cat arched its back in a show of aggression.
Turn aggression inward: To direct hostile feelings towards oneself, which can lead to self-criticism or harm.
- Instead of arguing, he tends to turn his aggression inward.
- deliberately unfriendly behavior
- the act of initiating hostilities
- violent action that is hostile and usually unprovoked
- a feeling of hostility that arouses thoughts of attack
- a disposition to behave aggressively