aggression — English Dictionary

Noun

1. The act of initiating hostilities or invasion.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   Control, dispossession, violence, and tyranny are not “defensive”: they are part of an organized, ongoing aggression.

2. The practice or habit of launching attacks.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

3. Hostile or destructive behavior or actions.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   The decision to impose a steel and aluminum tariff is an act of aggression which makes trade war between the two pillars of the West a grim possibility.

4. A desire for confrontation and often violence; an urge to physically harm something or someone.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

5. The initiation or threat of conflict; coercion.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

Noun

1. a disposition to behave aggressively

   Broader terms

   unfriendliness

2. a feeling of hostility that arouses thoughts of attack

   Synonyms

   aggressiveness

   Broader terms

   hostilityenmityill will

3. violent action that is hostile and usually unprovoked

   Synonyms

   hostility

   Broader terms

   action

4. the act of initiating hostilities

   Broader terms

   combatarmed combat

5. deliberately unfriendly behavior

   Broader terms

   behaviorbehaviourconductdoings