aggress
Start a fight
Aggress means to initiate hostility or attack.
The word is uncommon outside psychology and international relations, where it describes unprovoked aggressive behavior: The study examined why individuals aggress against strangers.
Most speakers prefer attack, assault, or act aggressively.
The more familiar aggression and aggressive derive from this verb.
Violent offensive act
- strikeForceful impact or stoppage
- raidSudden armed incursion
- ambushSurprise strike from concealment
- chargeCost or accusation
offensive · onslaught · blitz · incursion · invasion · barrage · bombardment · pummel
Test of ability
- opposeAct against something
- defyResist or challenge openly
- resistOppose or refuse compliance
- contestOrganized competitive event
provoke · antagonize · intimidate · threaten · bully · harass · pressure · coerce
Insulting provocation
- goadIncite to action
- baitLure for prey
- antagonizeIncite hostility in
- instigateCause to begin
incite · inflame · foment · needle · badger · harass · pester · irritate
Active, bitter hostility
- belligerenceWarlike aggression
- enmityBitter, lasting ill will
- antagonismActive opposition or hostility
- maliceIntent to cause harm
spite · venom · rancor · resentment · ill-will · acrimony · malevolence · hatred
Defeat by superior force
- subjugateBring under dominion
- bullyHabitual intimidator
- coerceObtain by intimidation
- imposeForce acceptance of
intimidate · strong-arm · steamroll · browbeat · tyrannize · oppress · control · force
Hostile and eager to clash
- bellicoseInclined toward aggression
- pugnaciousInclined to quarrel
- combativeInclined toward conflict
- truculentAggressively hostile disposition
contentious · quarrelsome · antagonistic · provocative · militant · warlike · confrontational · hostile
assault
Violent offensive act
charge · offensive · onslaught · blitz · incursion · invasion · barrage · bombardment · pummel · overrun
challenge
Test of ability
contest · provoke · antagonize · intimidate · threaten · bully · harass · pressure · coerce · push
taunt
Insulting provocation
- goadIncite to action
- baitLure for prey
- antagonizeIncite hostility in
instigate · incite · inflame · foment · needle · badger · harass · pester · irritate · enrage
animosity
Active, bitter hostility
- belligerenceWarlike aggression
- enmityBitter, lasting ill will
- antagonismActive opposition or hostility
malice · spite · venom · rancor · resentment · ill-will · acrimony · malevolence · hatred · wrath
overpower
Defeat by superior force
impose · intimidate · strong-arm · steamroll · browbeat · tyrannize · oppress · control · force · assert
belligerent
Hostile and eager to clash
- bellicoseInclined toward aggression
- pugnaciousInclined to quarrel
- combativeInclined toward conflict
truculent · contentious · quarrelsome · antagonistic · provocative · militant · warlike · confrontational · hostile
aggressmake peace
Resolve conflict between parties
reconcile · retreat · withdraw · pacify · conciliate
- passive aggressiveIndirectly expressing resentment
- aggressive driverHostile motorist on highways
- aggressive behaviorHostile or threatening conduct
- non-aggression pactAgreement to avoid conflict
- aggressive treatmentForceful medical intervention
- aggressive marketingForceful promotional methods
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