passive-aggressive
adjective
pas·sive-ag·gres·sive
ˈpa-siv-ə-ˈgre-siv 
: being, marked by, or displaying behavior characterized by the expression of negative feelings, resentment, and aggression in an unassertive passive way (as through procrastination and stubbornness)
It is passive-aggressive behavior, the donning of a mask of amiability that conceals raw antagonism toward one's competitors, even one's friends.—
Hilary De Vries
Hilary De VriesA passive-aggressive manager eschews open hostilities, in part because he feels distinctly uncomfortable with them.—Walter Kiechel III
Walter Kiechel III
passive-aggressive
noun
Examples of passive-aggressive in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Saturday Night Live alum Heidi Gardner appears in two episodes as Tisha Basmati, the glamorous, passive-aggressive wife of Reggie's long-time rival.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Dec. 2025
What starts as a petty territorial conflict mutates into a spiralling cycle of retributions, escalating from passive-aggressive jabs to acts of destruction and ruin.
—Udita Jhunjhunwala, Variety, 21 Nov. 2025
Repressed resentment and grievances explode when his professional success takes a backseat to hers, and passive-aggressive zingers and hard feelings turn their relationship into a flaming hot mess.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 21 Nov. 2025
Instead of answering the question directly, Tomlin fired back with a passive-aggressive response that certainly hints at him not being overly pleased with how his quarterback played.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
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Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Dec. 2025
What starts as a petty territorial conflict mutates into a spiralling cycle of retributions, escalating from passive-aggressive jabs to acts of destruction and ruin.
—Udita Jhunjhunwala, Variety, 21 Nov. 2025
Repressed resentment and grievances explode when his professional success takes a backseat to hers, and passive-aggressive zingers and hard feelings turn their relationship into a flaming hot mess.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 21 Nov. 2025
Instead of answering the question directly, Tomlin fired back with a passive-aggressive response that certainly hints at him not being overly pleased with how his quarterback played.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for passive-aggressive
Cite this Entry
“Passive-aggressive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/passive-aggressive. Accessed 18 Dec. 2025.
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