aggression
Aggression refers to hostile or violent behavior or attitudes toward another person or entity. It often involves the intention to cause harm, exert dominance, or respond to a perceived threat, whether physically or verbally.
Examples
3 of 5He had difficulty controlling his aggression when he felt frustrated.
He had a hard time managing his hostile behavior during times of frustration.
The international community condemned the act of military aggression.
The global community denounced the unprovoked military attack.
Dude, you've got to channel that aggression into your workout.
Friend, you should use that pent-up energy for your exercise instead.
Antonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of the 'Ag' in Aggression as standing for 'Angry' and 'Go'—someone who is Angry and ready to Go for an attack.
Quick Quiz
The sports psychologist helped the athlete channel his ______ into his performance on the field.
Correct!
The correct answer is: aggression
Examples
He had difficulty controlling his aggression when he felt frustrated.
everydayHe had a hard time managing his hostile behavior during times of frustration.
The international community condemned the act of military aggression.
formalThe global community denounced the unprovoked military attack.
Dude, you've got to channel that aggression into your workout.
informalFriend, you should use that pent-up energy for your exercise instead.
Sociologists study how social environments can trigger predatory aggression.
academicSocial scientists investigate how surroundings can cause calculated hostile behavior.
Our market aggression allowed us to capture a larger share of the industry this quarter.
businessOur forceful and competitive business strategy helped us gain more market control.
Antonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
an act of aggression
a specific instance of starting a fight or war
vent one's aggression
to release pent-up angry feelings
passive-aggressive behavior
avoiding direct conflict while still being hostile
Often Confused With
Assertiveness is standing up for your rights in a respectful way, while aggression involves violating the rights of others.
Aggression is the intent or the feeling of hostility, while violence specifically refers to the physical act of causing harm.
Usage Notes
The word is most commonly used as an uncountable noun to describe a trait or feeling, but can be used as a countable noun ('acts of aggression') when referring to specific events.
Common Mistakes
Learners often try to use 'aggression' as a verb. Remember that 'aggression' is the noun; the verb form 'aggress' exists but is rare; usually, we say 'behave aggressively' or 'act with aggression'.
Memory Tip
Think of the 'Ag' in Aggression as standing for 'Angry' and 'Go'—someone who is Angry and ready to Go for an attack.
Word Origin
Derived from the Latin 'aggredi', which means 'to approach' or 'to attack'.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In many Western business cultures, 'market aggression' is seen as a positive, competitive trait, whereas personal aggression is socially discouraged.
Quick Quiz
The sports psychologist helped the athlete channel his ______ into his performance on the field.
Correct!
The correct answer is: aggression
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