# aggression

Pronunciation: say "uh-GRE-shuhn" /əˈɡɹɛʃən/

## Noun

1. Hostile or destructive behavior or actions directed toward other people, animals, or things.
   - Simple: Angry or mean behavior that is meant to hurt or frighten someone.
   - _Years of bullying had taught him to meet every problem with aggression._
   - _The coach warned that aggression on the field would draw penalties._
2. The act of starting hostilities or invading another country, especially as the side that strikes first.
   - Simple: The act of starting a war or attack against another country.
   - _The treaty was meant to prevent any further aggression between the two states._
   - _Historians still debate which side committed the first act of aggression._
3. The ongoing practice or habit of launching attacks on others.
   - Simple: The habit of attacking other people or groups again and again.
   - _The empire's long history of aggression left its neighbors permanently wary._
   - _Repeated aggression from the rival gang finally forced the police to step in._
4. The initiation or threat of conflict, used as a means of coercion.
   - Simple: Starting trouble, or threatening to, in order to force someone to do what you want.
   - _The regime relied on aggression to keep neighboring states in line._
   - _Threats and open aggression replaced any attempt at honest negotiation._

## Origin

This word came through Middle French aggression from Latin aggressio, based on aggressus, the past participle of aggredior meaning "to approach, address, or attack."

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/aggression (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).