1
as in aggressive
having or showing a bold forcefulness in the pursuit of a goal
some reef fish are assertive in defending their territory
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in emphatic
marked by or uttered with forcefulness
after months of assertive declarations that he would not run for president, he announced he was running
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of assertive
Hasina, by contrast, was far more outspoken and assertive.
—
Reuters, NBC news, 30 Dec. 2025
The council needs to push the Public Utilities Commission and the state Legislature to take assertive steps because SDG&E will not course correct on its own.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Dec. 2025
Hollins was remembered as being strict and assertive.
—Kansas City Star, 21 Dec. 2025
Cheers to a stronger, assertive and more self-focused lunar cycle.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 21 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for assertive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assertive
Adjective
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That’s the kind of chance that last season, a more aggressive-looking Stolarz would have used his frame — and frankly, his big-game presence — to turn away with ease.—
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The agency has also faced criticism for aggressive tactics used by ICE agents in executing the president’s immigration policy.—
Adjective
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But the fact this England team are clearly still united and went down fighting to a five-wicket defeat in Sydney that gave Australia another emphatic series victory on home soil, this time 4-1, should not camouflage the need for change.—
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The Kings pushed the lead up to 12 when Achiuwa threw down an emphatic dunk over Flagg.—
Adjective
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The project goals, which were ambitious in terms of cell voltage and current density, were surpassed.—
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The story follows Chalamet as Marty, an ambitious young man from New York’s Lower East Side, convinced that table tennis is his ticket to success.—
Adjective
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Started from seed, this type of sedum is a vigorous grower, forming a tidy mound with strong, flop-free stems.—
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But a new study, published in Nature Communications in October, says vigorous activity is even more valuable than that.—
Adjective
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Safavi said the blackout coincided with violent confrontations in several regions.—
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Parallel societies in certain urban areas and rising violent crime statistics linked to some migrant cohorts in countries such as Sweden and Germany led to the dramatic rise of populist and patriotic parties across the continent, from France to Italy to the Netherlands.—
Adjective
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Not because the moms themselves are toxic people, but because the dynamic shifts into an ugly place with mean-girl behavior.—
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The 53-year-old Mladenov has long been involved in Middle Eastern politics with solid expertise in the region’s dynamic developments.—
Cite this Entry
“Assertive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assertive. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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