aggression

noun

ag·​gres·​sion ə-ˈgre-shən 

1

: a forceful action or procedure (such as an unprovoked attack) especially when intended to dominate or master

2

: the practice of making attacks or encroachments

especially : unprovoked violation by one country of the territorial integrity of another

warned that any act of aggression could start a war

3

: hostile, injurious, or destructive behavior or outlook especially when caused by frustration

Aggression is often the expression of pent-up rage.

Synonyms

• aggressiveness
• assaultiveness
• bellicosity
• belligerence
• belligerency
• combativeness
• contentiousness
• defiance
• disputatiousness
• feistiness
• fight
• militance
• militancy
• militantness
• pugnacity
• quarrelsomeness
• scrappiness
• truculence

Examples of aggression in a Sentence

He has a lot of pent-up aggression.

behavior that is likely to provoke aggression

dangerous dogs showing aggression toward people

The government says that it will view any attempt to fly over its territory as an act of aggression.

Recent Examples on the Web

Americans lacked a sense of urgency about Nazi aggression. —Tamar Jacoby, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025

Related article Ukraine’s European allies say Russian aggression is pushing peace out of reach, as US envoy meets Putin The new administration has opened multiple channels to Moscow, following three years of diplomatic isolation. —Andrew Carey and Victoria Butenko, CNN Money, 12 Apr. 2025

That tells you everything about how this other United trinity actually played on the pitch as opposed to on paper — as a fluid, interchangeable blend of power, technique, and aggression, granted the freedom to come at opponents from all angles. —The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025

In some cases, jumping can also be due to aggression. —David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French & Latin; French agression, going back to Middle French, "attack," borrowed from Latin aggressiōn-, aggressiō, from aggredī "to approach, attack" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns — more at aggress

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing aggression

• anti-aggression
• counter-aggression

Rhymes for aggression

• accession
• compression
• concession
• confession
• depression
• digression
• discretion
• expression
• impression
• obsession
• oppression
• possession

Kids Definition

aggression

noun

ag·​gres·​sion ə-ˈgresh-ən 

1

: an attack made without reasonable cause

2

: the practice of making attacks

3

: hostile or destructive behavior or outlook

Etymology

derived from Latin aggredi "to attack," from ad- "to" and gradi "to step, go"

Medical Definition

aggression

noun

ag·​gres·​sion ə-ˈgresh-ən 

: hostile, injurious, or destructive behavior or outlook