aggression

noun

ag·​gres·​sion ə-ˈgre-shən How to pronounce aggression (audio)
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.

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 As more schools invest in these state-of-the-art and expensive surveillance systems, critics warn that these are not foolproof and schools should instead invest resources in fighting other student safety concerns like bullying, verbal aggression, teen suicide and fighting. Caroline Beck, The Indianapolis Star, 12 Mar. 2024 Off the coast of the Philippines, Chinese ships have swarmed Philippine vessels and ignored appeals by Philippine officials to stop their aggression. Regine Cabato, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024 Hezbollah persists in its aggression against Israel, preventing the return of residents to their homes along the northern border. Amos Yadlin, Foreign Affairs, 8 Mar. 2024 But his aim in convening a Paris summit on Ukraine late last month was wider: to make the case for Option 2, a more assertive, longer-term recalibration of Europe’s security policy in response to Russia’s aggression. Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Mar. 2024 Other experts say that while Australia is not as vocal as the US in calling out China’s aggressions, Canberra is still hedging against Beijing’s growing military presence in the region by actively fortifying its regional security alliances. Kathleen Magramo, CNN, 4 Mar. 2024 German officials have begun discussing a nuclear fallback plan with the U.K. and France, thanks in large part to Russia's continued aggression as well as former President Trump's pressure on European allies to meet defense spending thresholds, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday. Anders Hagstrom, Fox News, 27 Feb. 2024 Here’s what mothers with too much aggression and ambition can do to their sons, the movie says — turn them into hollow-eyed zombies, sapped of the very autonomy that defines maleness. Mark Harris Keita Morimoto, New York Times, 27 Feb. 2024 Entire nations overcame their fears and hesitation and became our strong backers in war—Britain, and Germany, grappling all along with their own history, and so many other nations as well, united behind the crystal-clear vision of the horrifying threat of Russian aggression. TIME, 2 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'aggression.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of aggression was in 1611

Dictionary Entries Near aggression

Cite this Entry

“Aggression.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aggression. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

aggression

noun
ag·​gres·​sion ə-ˈgresh-ən How to pronounce aggression (audio)
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 How to pronounce aggression (audio)
: hostile, injurious, or destructive behavior or outlook

More from Merriam-Webster on aggression

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