1
as in aggressiveness
an inclination to fight or quarrel
though the dogs have a reputation for aggression, many of their owners insist they make gentle pets
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in attack
the act or action of setting upon with force or violence
diplomats warned that any aggression by either side could easily turn into a full-scale war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of aggression
Fourteen seasons later, Dave Clark is still trying to temper some of Altuve’s aggression.
—
Chandler Rome, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
The warning has left European leaders, fearing the possibility of Russian aggression beyond Ukraine, scrambling to fill the gap.
—Jacob Turcotte, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Feb. 2025
This potential commitment aligns with an argument in the White House that the mere presence of American economic interests in Ukraine would deter future Russian aggression.
—Constant Méheut, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2025
He’s toed the line between aggression and self-destruction this year better, and teammates and coaches have raved about his engagement level outside of game time.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aggression
Chandler Rome, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
The warning has left European leaders, fearing the possibility of Russian aggression beyond Ukraine, scrambling to fill the gap.
—Jacob Turcotte, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Feb. 2025
This potential commitment aligns with an argument in the White House that the mere presence of American economic interests in Ukraine would deter future Russian aggression.
—Constant Méheut, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2025
He’s toed the line between aggression and self-destruction this year better, and teammates and coaches have raved about his engagement level outside of game time.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aggression
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aggression
Noun
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According to the Lee County Sheriff's Office, about 5:15 p.m. Monday, deputies responded to the area's Valley community for a report of a dog attack.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA TODAY,
1 Mar. 2025
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Hamas started the war with its Oct. 7, 2023, attack that left 1,200 dead in Israel, mostly civilians, and took some 250 hostage.—
Samy Magdy and David Rising,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The Russian foreign policy establishment always speculated that Europe would be most likely to eventually seek rapprochement with Moscow, while U.S. hostility to Russia was thought to be hard-wired.—
Fred Weir,
The Christian Science Monitor,
5 Mar. 2025
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Guy Pearce is an antagonistic delight wielding passive-aggressive hostility as the main character’s benefactor, and Felicity Jones, as the architect’s loyal wife, is the heart of the piece who steps up when her spouse can’t.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA TODAY,
1 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Beijing has also softened its regulatory assault on Chinese technology companies and the property sector.—
Jacky Wong,
WSJ,
6 Feb. 2023
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Zelenskyy has warned for weeks that Moscow aims to step up its assault after about two months of virtual stalemate along the front line that stretches across the south and east.—
Reuters,
NBC News,
31 Jan. 2023
Noun
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Atul Gawande, former Assistant Administrator for Global Health at USAID, wrote on X that 5,800 USAID contracts have been terminated in defiance of the courts.—
Joshua P. Cohen,
Forbes,
4 Mar. 2025
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The strange particulars of his passing remain a mystery thus far, but Hackman’s life was lived in quiet defiance of Hollywood fame and the strictures of celebrity.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The source of the misunderstanding appears to be a map in the 2025 Old Farmer’s Almanac that incorrectly states that Maryland can expect an onslaught of Brood XIV (14) cicadas this year.—
Mary Carole McCauley,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Mar. 2025
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Gascón, the first openly trans actor to be nominated for an Academy Award, faced an onslaught of backlash after old social media posts about George Floyd and Islam came to light.—
Tracy Wright,
Fox News,
9 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Their responses indicate a lengthy fight to come over the budget resolution.—
Sudiksha Kochi,
USA TODAY,
27 Feb. 2025
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His childhood was turbulent—his parents' frequent fights sometimes turned physical, with his father directing his frustrations at young Gene.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
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In separate raids on Crimean anchorages in February, May and June 2024, the USVs sank a corvette, a landing ship, a patrol boat and a tugboat.—
David Axe,
Forbes,
9 Mar. 2025
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Military bloggers from both sides say Ukraine is on the back foot, while Ukraine’s army says Russian forces used a gas pipeline to launch a surprise raid in one area.—
Maria Kostenko, Christian Edwards and Sophie Tanno,
CNN,
9 Mar. 2025
Noun
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What To Know There have been tensions over NATO accusing Russia of sabotaging vessels in the Baltic Sea and claims of hybrid warfare around what is dubbed the NATO Lake as the alliance's members move to combat Moscow's belligerence in the region.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
27 Feb. 2025
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Also, there is the matter of belligerence toward America’s allies and tenderness toward America’s enemies.—
Jay Nordlinger,
National Review,
27 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Aggression.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggression. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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