aggression

noun

Sayuh-GRE-shuhn/əˈɡɹɛʃən/

4 meanings of aggression

1
noununcountable
Angry or mean behavior that is meant to hurt or frighten someone.
Like a storm that lashes out at everything around it.
His sudden aggression scared the other kids on the playground.
The dog showed aggression whenever strangers came near the gate.
Similarhostility, violence, belligerence
Oppositegentleness, passivity
Note
2
noununcountable
The act of starting a war or attack against another country.
Like throwing the first punch in a fight.
The invasion was seen as clear aggression against a peaceful neighbor.
Many nations quickly condemned the country's aggression.
Similarhostility, attack, invasion
Note
3
noununcountable
The habit of attacking other people or groups again and again.
Like a person who is always looking for a fight.
The bully's constant aggression made school miserable for everyone.
Their aggression toward weaker teams became a pattern over the season.
Similarbelligerence, hostility, militarism
4
noununcountable
Starting trouble, or threatening to, in order to force someone to do what you want.
Like a bully who threatens others to get his way.
He used aggression to bully his coworkers into agreeing with him.
Their aggression left the smaller country with no real choice.
Similarintimidation, coercion, belligerence
Note

Practice

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Origin

It comes from Latin, from a word meaning "to approach or attack." It reached English through Middle French.