passive-aggressor
Subtle hostility practitioner
A passive-aggressor is someone who expresses hostility indirectly rather than openly—through sulking, deliberate inefficiency, backhanded compliments, or feigned ignorance.
Where an aggressor confronts directly, the passive-aggressor operates through evasion and plausible deniability: He's such a passive-aggressor—always "forgetting" to do things he doesn't want to do.
Deliberately refusing to respond
- sulkingSilent, resentful withdrawal
- guilt-trippingInducing remorse deliberately
- withholdingKeeping from another
- procrastinationHabitual task avoidance
sarcasm · eye-rolling · cold-shoulder · blame-shifting · martyrdom · negging · snubbing · door-slamming
Deliberate keeping away
- projectionSomething that extends outward
- denialRefusal to accept reality
- rationalizationInventing acceptable motives afterward
- displacementRemoval from usual location
Suggesting indirectly
- insinuationIndirect, usually negative suggestion
- innuendoOblique disparaging remark
- subtextImplicit meaning beneath words
- ambiguityOpenness to multiple interpretations
undercurrent · obliqueness · allusion · non-answers · evasiveness · indirectness · implication
Sharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
- resentmentPersistent bitter displeasure
- grudgePersistent resentment toward someone
- animosityActive, bitter hostility
- displeasureMild anger or disapproval
Weakening by covert means
- sabotageDeliberate disruption of operations
- obstructionSomething blocking the way
- confusionMental disorientation or bewilderment
- self-doubtUncertainty about oneself
stonewalling
Deliberately refusing to respond
- sulkingSilent, resentful withdrawal
- guilt-trippingInducing remorse deliberately
- withholdingKeeping from another
procrastination · sarcasm · eye-rolling · cold-shoulder · blame-shifting · martyrdom · negging · snubbing · door-slamming · foot-dragging
avoidance
Deliberate keeping away
- projectionSomething that extends outward
- denialRefusal to accept reality
- rationalizationInventing acceptable motives afterward
hinting
Suggesting indirectly
- insinuationIndirect, usually negative suggestion
- innuendoOblique disparaging remark
- subtextImplicit meaning beneath words
ambiguity · undercurrent · obliqueness · allusion · non-answers · evasiveness · indirectness · implication
bitterness
Sharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
- resentmentPersistent bitter displeasure
- grudgePersistent resentment toward someone
- animosityActive, bitter hostility
undermining
Weakening by covert means
- sabotageDeliberate disruption of operations
- obstructionSomething blocking the way
- confusionMental disorientation or bewilderment
self-doubt · crazymaking · destabilization · frustration · helplessness
passive-aggressorhothead
Impetuous, easily angered person
fighter · aggressor · bully · brawler · belligerent
passive-aggressorpeacemaker
Conflict resolution agent
harmonizer · mediator · conciliator · bridge-builder · team player
passive, aggressor, pass, passivity, passively, passiveness, aggress, aggression, aggressive