aggresses

Initiates an assault

Aggresses is the third-person singular present tense of aggress, a relatively uncommon verb meaning to initiate hostility or attack.

While aggression and aggressive appear constantly in English, the verb form is rare and sounds formal or technical.

The country that aggresses first bears responsibility for the conflict.

Most speakers would choose "attacks" or "acts aggressively" instead.

provocation

taunt

Insulting provocation

instigate · provoke · bait · harassment · badger · pester · foment · stir · rouse · enrage

attacks

assault

Violent offensive act

  • ambushSurprise strike from concealment
  • raidSudden armed incursion
  • offensiveCausing displeasure or attack-oriented

onslaught · strike · charge · incursion · barrage · combat · engagement · battle · siege · blitz

hostility

antagonism

Active opposition or hostility

malice · spite · venom · vitriol · acrimony · ire · wrath · rage · fury · hostile

intrusion

trespass

Unauthorized entry onto property

infringement · incursion · penetration · overstepping · infiltration · transgression · advance · territorial · boundary violation · expansionism

Opposites
hostile vs. protective action

aggressesdefends

Acts to protect

protects · shields · guards · safeguards · shelters

initiation vs. response

aggressesretreats

Backs off or sanctuaries

withdraws · yields · backs down · submits · capitulates

hostility vs. peacefulness

aggressespacifies

Brings to calm

conciliates · appeases · makes peace · reconciles · soothes

Phrases
Family

aggressive, aggression, aggressor, unaggressive, aggressors, nonaggression, nonaggressive, aggress, aggressing

Familiarity
Top 1,000,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated PG