aggressive
Definitions
Ready to attack or confront; hostile.
好斗的，侵略性的。
Forceful and bold in pursuing goals.
有进取心的，强势的。
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedag- (a form of ad-, 'toward') + gress (to step) + -ive (tending to) = tending to step toward someone. Advancing on a person was a hostile act, so the word means combative — but the same forward-driving energy can be neutral or admiring (aggressive marketing, aggressive growth).
Root gress still carries 64 more wordsWhy It Means This
The split personality of aggressive comes straight from the root. ad- 'toward' + gradi 'to step' means 'advancing on someone' — neutral in itself, but in war, advancing means attacking. English kept both edges: the hostile sense (aggressive driver) and the energetic-but-not-violent sense (aggressive timeline, aggressive pricing). Context tells you which one is meant.
Common Collocations
- 1.aggressive behavior好斗行为
- 2.aggressive competition激烈竞争
Example Sentences
- 1.
The dog became aggressive when strangers approached.
- 2.
They took an aggressive approach to winning new clients.
- 3.
Doctors recommended aggressive treatment for the tumor.
Synonym Comparison
- aggressive — pushing forward, can be hostile or just forceful
- assertive — confidently stating your needs, positive, no hostility
- hostile — openly unfriendly, always negative
- forceful — strong and firm, usually neutral-to-positive
- pushy — too insistent, mildly negative