Meaning & use
aggressively
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Meanings
adverbnot comparable
In a hostile, forceful way that threatens or attacks others.
Grammar: Describes how someone acts: shouted aggressively.
Patterns
- act aggressively
- behave aggressively toward someone
The dog barked aggressively at strangers.
He pushed aggressively through the crowd.
The driver gestured aggressively at the cyclist.
adverbnot comparableapproving
In a bold, determined way that pursues goals with great energy.
Grammar: Often positive in business and sport: market aggressively.
Patterns
- pursue something aggressively
- market something aggressively
The firm aggressively expanded into new markets.
She aggressively pursued the job and got it.
The team defended aggressively all game.
adverbnot comparablemedical
In a rapid, intense or severe way, especially of a disease or treatment.
Grammar: Medical use: treat aggressively.
Patterns
- treat something aggressively
- spread aggressively
Doctors treated the infection aggressively.
The cancer grew aggressively.
The weeds spread aggressively across the lawn.
Common combinations
- act aggressively
- Some animals act aggressively when frightened.
- campaign aggressively
- She campaigned aggressively for the seat.
- treat aggressively
- The disease was treated aggressively.
- market aggressively
- The brand markets its drinks aggressively.
- pursue aggressively
- The team pursued the title aggressively.
Synonyms and how they differ
- forcefully
- Forcefully means with strength and without hostility, whereas aggressively usually suggests an attacking attitude.
- assertively
- Assertively is a positive word for firm but polite confidence, which is gentler than aggressively.
- fiercely
- Fiercely stresses intensity of feeling, as in fiercely loyal, while aggressively stresses attacking behavior.
- belligerently
- Belligerently means in a hostile, quarrelsome way and is more purely negative than aggressively.
Opposites
Word family
- aggressive adjective
- ready to attack, or boldly determined
- aggression noun
- hostile behavior, or an unprovoked attack
- aggressor noun
- the person or country that attacks first
- aggressiveness noun
- the quality of being aggressive
Commonly confused: aggressively or agressively?
aggressively vs agressively
This is a common misspelling; the correct spelling has a double g and a double s: aggressively.
Practice
Which sentence uses aggressively in a positive sense?
Choose one answer.
Only the first sentence uses aggressively to mean bold, determined effort. The others describe hostile behavior.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “aggressively”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.